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ESPEUANZA; 


MY    JOUKNEY    THITHEK 


AND 


WHAT    I    FOUND    THERE 


'  And  better  than  this  home  of  lovBi 
We  seeli  a  surer  rest  above, 
Where  sheltering  wings  around  us  cast. 
Shall  hide  us  from  the  stormy  blast. 


CINCINNATI: 

PUBLISHED    BY    VALENTINE    NICHOLSON 
1860. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1860,  by 

VALENTINE    NICHOLSON, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  for  the 

Southern  District  of  Ohio. 


This  being  the  first  edition  of  a  new  book,  persons  desir- 
ing to  procure  copies  and  failing  to  find  the  same  in  book- 
stores conveniently  near,  are  informed  that  a  single  copy 
will  be  forwarded  by  mail  to  any  address  in  the  United 
States,  postage  free^  on  receipt  of  one  dollar  by  the  pub- 
lisher. 

Booksellers  supplied  on  terms  of  liberal  discount. 

Address  VALENTINE    NICHOLSON, 

CINCINNATI,    OHIO 


INTRODUCTION 


It  is  just  that  the  reader  who  takes  up  a  new  book,  should  find 
on  its  pages  a  concise  statement  of  what  the  vohime  contains. 

Those  who  introduce  either  strange  persons,  or  new  books  to 
others,  assume  a  degree  of  responsibility  not  always  well  con- 
sidered. 

A  friend,  confiding  in  you,  and  trusting  your  discretion,  may 
accept  the  person,  or  the  book  you  introduce,  as  worthy  the  same 
confidence  reposed  in  you. 

"Esperanza"  signifies  "Land  of  Hope;"  "My  journey  thither, 
and  what  I  found  there,"  can  only  be  fully  imderstood  by  reading 
all  the  chapters  of  the  book. 

A  glance  over  the  contents  will  give  a  general  idea  of  what  the 
book  treats  upon.  Every  chapter  has  its  own  peculiar  attractions, 
and  each  one  its  lesson  of  instruction. 

The  book  is  in  the  form  of  a  series  of  letters,  purporting  to 
have  been  written  by  a  young  gentleman  of  the  city  of  New 
York,  who  starts  on  a  journey  to  the  "Far  West;"  his  object  is 
to  seek  for  a  pleasant  location  for  the  future  home  of  himself  and 
"Clara,"  his  affianced. 

The  first  several  letters  bear  date  from  various  points  on  tlie 
line  of  the  journey,  the  others  are  most  of  them  written  at  Es- 
peranza during  the  visit  which  he  enjoyed  there. 

The  descriptive  history  of  his  journey  begins  at  the  depot  of 
the  New  York  and  Erie  Rail  Road. 

(Hi) 


IV  INTRODUCTION. 


The  young  gentleman  enters  the  cars  and  finds  them  crowded. 
A  lady  passenger  motions  him  to  a  seat  beside  her.  In  this  early 
part  of  the  acquaintance  they  find  themselves  both  traveling  west, 
and  agree  to  bear  each  other  company.  He  accepts  an  invitation 
to  visit  her  home  and  her  friends. 

They  make  the  journey  by  way  of  Niagara,  Buffalo,  Cleveland, 
Columbus,  Cincinnati,  stopping  for  a  day  or  two  at  some  of  these 
points.  Various  interesting  incidents  occur,  yet  the  pleasure  of 
reading  the  book  must  not  be  marred  by  naming  them  here. 
From  Cincinnati  they  travel  by  steamboat  down  the  Ohio  river 
to  the  Mississippi,  down  that  river  a  long  distance,  then  up  one 
of  its  tributaries  to  Esperanza,  the  beautiful  home  of  Miss 
Elmore. 

After  twenty  chapters  of  this  book  had  been  stereotyped,  the 
opinions  and  faith  of  the  author  were  in  some  respects  so  changed, 
that  he  engaged  in  a  different  field  of  labor. 

The  stereotype  plates,  together  with  manuscript  for  additional 
chapters  to  complete  the  volume,  were  then  placed  in  the  hands 
of  the  writer  of  this  notice,  with  privilege  to  revise,  change  or 
abridge  the  manuscript,  and  publish  or  dispose  of  all  at  discretion. 

The  picture  of  the  "School  of  Life,"  at  Esparanza,  is  painted 
skillfully  and  in  beautiful  colors. 

Human  life,  in  purity,  peace  and  love,  is  compared  and  placed 
in  contrast  with  life  in  lust,  discord  and  jealousy. 

The  thoughts  of  the  writer  are  stated  with  remarkable  clearness, 
and  oftentimes  in  language  very  beautiful. 

There  is  manifested  a  candor  and  an  earnestness  of  purpose, 
proving  the  author  to  be  one  willing  "to  do,  and  to  dare,"  for 
whatever  he  believed  to  be  the  cause  of  truth.  On  one  subject 
treated  upon,  there  are  opinions  advanced,  which,  to  my  mind, 
appear  erroneous.  I  frankly  acknowlege  the  permitting  of  those 
sentiments  to  go  before  the  world,  is  to  me  a  two-fold  cause  of 
regret;  first  and  most,  because  of  the  deceptive  and  poisonous 
nature  of  all  error,  and  its  tendency  to  propagate  itself  wherever 
the  seeds  are  sown ;  and  also,  because  the  mind  of  the  author  has 
changed  since  writing  the  same. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  only  alternative  was  to  suppress  many  vital  truths,  or 
permit  a  few  eri'ors  to  appear  in  connection  with  them.  Remem- 
bering the  expression  of  Jefferson,  "Error  of  opinion  may  be 
tolerated,  when  reason  is  left  free  to  combat  it;"  believing  also, 
that  tmth  has  nothing  to  fear  from  the  expression  of  mistaken 
opinions,  or  from  the  "freedom  of  thought,  freedom  of  speech, 
or  freedom  of  the  press  :"  after  meditating  deliberately,  my  decis- 
ion was  to  "let  the  tares  grow  with  the  wheat  until  harvest." 

That  to  which  I  have  alluded  as  being  objectionable,  will  be 
found  on  the  pages  where  the  writer  was  treating  upon  the  ques- 
tion of  love,  and  the  true  relation  which  the  sexes  should  bear  to 
each  other. 

Members  of  the  society  who  are  living  in  such  great  harmony 
and  happiness  at  "Esperanza,"  are  some  of  them  represented  as 
having  intimate  relations  of  love,  and  sharing  the  responsibility 
of  offspring  with  more  than  one  of  the  opposite  sex.  It  is  my 
own  religious  opinion,  that  upon  a  correct  solution  of  this  one 
great  question,  rests  the  entire  subject  of  redemption  and  salvation 
from  sin,  sorrow  and  all  human  suffering.  Original  salvation 
must  square  the  account  made  by  "original  sin,"  before  the  mil- 
lenial  day  can  dawn  on  the  earth.  I  believe  it,  in  accordance  with 
the  divine  law,  that  no  man  or  woman  can  ever  find  entire  peace 
or  tranquil  rest  of  spirit,  until  the  affections  rest  upon  one  love, 
with  a  positive  assurance  and  faith  that  this  one,  in  a  conjugal 
sense,  is  entirely  and  exclusively  their  own,  whose  loving  sym- 
pathy satisfies  all  the  deep  askings  of  the  soul,  hushing  into 
silence  all  inclination  of  the  spirit  to  wander  abroad  for  other 
conjugal  connection;  every  one  thus  truly  mated  with  their 
own,  will  feel  pained  at  the  thought  of  having  their  partner  in 
offspring  mingle  the  finer  spheres  of  life  and  love  in  sexual  union 
with  any  other ;  and  that  no  other  unions,  except  such  as  are  thus 
wholly  one  with  each  other,  are  worthy  of  the  sacred  name  of 
marriage,  or  can  give  the  right  to  parties  of  becoming  partners  in 
offspring. 

Christ  and  the  apostles,  by  example  and  by  precept,  bore  testi- 
mony against   the   popular  opinions  and  customs  of  both  the 


INTRODUCTION. 


churcli  and  the  world  on  the  subject  of  marriage ;  may  there  not 
be  a  deeper  meaning  and  other  reasons  in,  and  for  their  course, 
than  even  professing  Christians  have  ever  thought  or  believed. 

"I  have  many  things  to  say  unto  you,  but  ye  can  not  bear  them 

now." "  Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them 

not,  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  If  little  children 
throughout  the  entire  earth  were  only  permitted  to  come  unto 
Christ  through  the  divine  law  of  chaste  and  loving  generation, 
then  the  noise  and  confusion  of  so  much  disputing  on  the  subject 
of  regeneration  might  very  soon  pass  away,  and  especially  so,  if 
the  little  Christians  could  have  the  example  of  all  around  and  near 
them,  living  to  the  line  of  the  Christian  prayer:  "Thy  kingdom 
come,  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in  heaven." 

And  now,  having  given  the  preceding  caution  respecting  what 
I  deem  the  principle  error  in  this  volume,  believing  as  I  do  that 
the  truths  contained  will  greatly  overbalance  whatever  of  error 
there  may  be  on  the  pages,  hoping  also  that  whatever  influence 
the  book  may  have  upon  the  minds  of  those  who  read  it,  will  be 
to  encourage  the  growth  of  virtue,  purity  and  peace  in  the  soul, 
so  that  eventually  large  multitudes  of  men  and  women  may  be 
able  to  speak  truthfully  of  themselves,  and  say, 

"  Gently  I  took  that  which  ungently  came, 
And  without  scorn  forgave : — Do  thou  the  same. 

I  submit  the  book,  cheerfully  accepting  my  own  portion  of 
responsibility. 

VALENTINE  NICHOLSON. 


ESPERANZAi 


PROM   NEW   YORK   TO   NIAGARA. 


My  Friend — It  is  late,  and  my  mind  and  heart  are  full.  The 
roar  of  the  great  cataract  is  in  my  ear ;  the  vibrations  of  the  solid 
rock-ribbed  earth  jar  the  windows  of  my  little  bed-room,  and  even 
shake,  with  a  slight  tremor,  the  table  on  which  I  write. 

I  feel  the  soft  pressure  of  your  hand,  I  see  the  fond  glances  of 
your  tearful  eye,  I  feel  your  breath  warm  upon  my  cheek,  and  taste 
the  sweetness  of  your  parting  kiss.  All  is  vividly  present  to  me  at 
this  moment ;  and  then  the  roar  of  Niagara  murmurs  so  deeply  that 
we  are  hundreds  of  miles  apart !  Your  dear  picture,  which  has 
rested  on  my  heart  all  day,  now  lies  before  me,  and  smiles  upon  me 
as  I  look  at  it  with  dim  eyes.  The  light  falls  life-like,  through 
those  brown  silken  curls,  on  that  white  forehead  and  delicate  cheek ; 
the  arched  brows  are  full  of  truth  and  hope,  and  the  full,  loving 
lips  seem  ready  to  open  and  call  me  by  some  dear  name.  I  smile 
and  sigh  at  once.  I  press  the  dear  image  to  my  lips  and  heart ;  and 
I  write  you  the  adventures  of  my  first  day's  journey  toward  the 
Land  of  Promise  in  the  Far  West. 

After  the  happy  heart  throbs,  and  the  sweetly  sad  adieus  of  our 
moonlit  parting  hour,  I  slept  sound,  awoke  with  the  dawn,  and 
prepared  to  leave  the  great  city,  so  many  years  my  home,  and  ever 
dear  to  me  as  yours,  to  seek  out  the  home  of  our  future.  The  sun 
rose  over  Brooklyn,  and  glittered  on  the  bay.  I  said  good  bye  to 
old  Ocean  through  the  narrows,  and  looked  round  proudly  on  that 


8  ESPERANZA. 

magnificent  scene,  connected  with  so  many  happy  associations ;  for 
there  was  Castle  Garden,  where  we  had  listened  to  music  together ; 
and  Staten  Island,  and  Weewhawken,  the  scene  of  men-y  Pic  Nics. 

But  the  ferry-boats  don't  wait  for  sentiment,  and  I  wa*  soon  at 
the  New  York  and  Erie  Railroad  Depot,  and  saw  the  iron  bars, 
which,  placed  end  to  end,  were  to  bring  me  over  mountain  and 
valley  ;  and  which  they  have  very  satisfactorily  accomplished. 

The  train  was  filling  rapidly — nearly  all  the  seats  were  taken, 
when  I  discovered  one  vacant  half  of  a  seat — a  lady  occupying  the 
other  half.  The  presumption  was,  that  her  husband,  or  other 
male  protector  would  soon  come  and  claim  it ;  but  as  this  was  not 
certain,  I  went  wishfully  toward  the  vacant  seat.  I  think  it  was  a 
real  attraction  that  drew  me.  She  did  not  wait  for  me  to  ask  if  the 
seat  was  engaged,  and  then  make  a  cold  ungracious  answer,  as  I  have 
seen  done  so  often ;  but  looking  up  with  a  calm  bright  look,  that 
seemed  to  scan  me  thoroughly,  she  smiled  a  welcome,  and  with  an 
indescribable  air  of  self-possessed  dignity,  motioned  me  to  the  seat 
beside  her,  which  I  took.  It  was  the  only  one,  but  had  there 
been  many,  I  should  have  wished  to  take  it.  Darling,  it  is  a 
confession  I  am  beginning,  but  do  not  be  alarmed.  Summon 
your  love  and  your  trust  in  me,  and  be  sure  that  I  can  not  be 
unworthy  of  either. 

I  must  describe  her.  She  may  be  thirty  years  old ;  a  little  above 
the  medium  height,  with  a  well  rounded  figure  and  graceful  attitudes 
and  movements.  Her  eyes  are  hazel,  with  long,  shining,  black 
lashes,  her  brows  well  formed,  her  nose  purely  cut  and  slightly 
aquiline,  her  mouth  moderately  large,  and  beautiful ;  teeth  white 
and  even,  complexion  a  pearly  brunette,  with  an  abundance  of  wavy, 
curling,  glossy,  pretty  hair.  Her  hands  and  feet  are  not  so  small  as 
yours,  but  delicately  shapen.  She  wears  a  simple  straw  hat,  and 
a  traveling  dress  of  a  severe,  but  still  elegant  simplicity.  Her 
gloves,  and  boots,  and  the  few  ornaments  she  wears  are  in  the  best 
style.  But  above  all,  her  manner,  so  gentle,  so  kind,  yet  so  full 
of  dignity  and  repose,  gives  you  a  feeling  of  confidence  and  rest, 
when  you  come  into  her  presence.  1  feel  sure  that  you  would  see 
her  as  I  do,  and  with  the  same  feeling. 


ESPERANZA. 


As  I  took  tbe  kindly  proffered  seat  at  her  side,  I  expressed  my 
thanks,  and  the  hope  that  we  should  have  a  pleasant  journey. 

"  The  thanks  belong  to  you,  perhaps  ;"  she  answered,  with  a  quiet 
smile.  "  A  woman  traveling  alone,  should  be  thankful  for  protec- 
tion ;  and,  besides,  said  she,  looking  drolly  at  some  rough  looking 
men,  who  were  searching  for  vacant  seats,  "  I  might  have  had  much 
les3  agreeable  company." 

This  might  have  been  a  compliment,  but  it  was  not,  in  its  manner, 
or  its  meaning,  but  the  expression  of  a  sincere  thankfulness  that 
some  of  the  coarse,  brutified  men  who  passed  us  could  not  claim  a 
seat  in  such  disagreeeable  proximity. 

"Do  you  travel  far  on  this  route?"  I  asked,  as  the  train  started. 

"I  go  to  Niagara,"  she  said,  "  on  my  way  beyond  the  Mississippi. 
I  visited  the  Falls  ten  years  ago,  and  go  a  little  out  of  my  route,  and 
stop  a  day  to  renew  my  acquaintance." 

Was  it  Providence,  or  Fate,  my  Clara  ?  I  will  believe  in  good 
angels,  and  benevolent  destinies.  Have  I  not  started  in  this  trust, 
hoping  to  be  beneficently  guided  to  the  home  of  our  happy  future  ? 

"And  you?"  she  asked,  with  a  smile  at  the  abstraction  into 
which  I  had  fallen. 

"I — it  is  my  own  journey.  I  am  also  going  far  west,  in  search 
of  a  home.     I  also  go  by  Niagara,  to  see  it  for  the  first  time." 

"  Ah,  well — then  we  may  get  acquainted,"  she  replied  graciously. 
It  is  the  word,  Clara ;  for  whatever  she  may  be,  her  manner  is 
queenly.  She  has  in  every  word,  and  at  all  times,  the  repose  of 
either  an  unconscious  innocence,  like  that  of  a  little  child,  or  of  a 
conscious  goodness,  at  peace  with  herself  and  with  every  one  about 
her.  I  have  not  in  the  fifteen  hours  past,  detected  one  movement 
of  affectation  or  coquetry.  I  would  as  soon  think  of  flattering  a 
sunbeam.  If  I  admired  her,  it  was  because  she  compelled  my  admi- 
ration; and  if  I  expressed  it,  it  troubled  her  no  more  than  Niagara 
is  troubled  with  the  enthusiasm  of  its  wonderers. 

I  fear  that  I  pain  you  with  these  details.  I  do  not  wish  to  be 
unjust  to  you,  my  love,  but  you  can  not,  at  once,  understand  this 
woman,  nor  the  kind  of  feeling  I  had  for  her,  from  the  first  moment 
I  sat  beside  her.     And  you  must  be  patient  with  me  and  let  me 


10  ESPERANZA. 


describe  her  as  fully  as  possible,  for  I  will  conceal  notbing  from 
you.  Whatever  can  come  into  my  heart  and  life  you  have  the  right 
to  know.  I  love  you  supremely — I  love  you  only.  The  feeling  I 
have  for  this  pure  and  beautiful  being  is  admiration,  and  if  I  can 
define  it — a  kind  of  devotion,  such  as  one  might  feel  for  a  superior 
being,  but  not  the  fond  and  personal  love  which  lives  in  my  inmost 
heart  for  you.  It  is  written — though  it  might  have  been  better, 
had  I  continued  my  narrative  without  these  declarations.  But  I 
will  now  give  you,  as  clearly  as  I  can,  the  progress  of  our  acquain- 
tance. 

" Do  you  reside  in  New  York  ?"  I  asked,  as  the  cars  paused  a 
moment  at  Paterson  !  " 

"No!" 

Never  was  one  little  monosyllabic  so  expressively  spoken,  not  even 
by  Rachel.  There  was  a  radient  happiness  in  the  "  no ;  "  not  a 
scorn  or  unappreciation  of  our  great  commercial  city,  but  her  whole 
face  lighted,  and  her  tone  seemed  filled  with  the  love  of  some  other, 
and  happier  home.  You  will  think  this  a  strange  interpretation; 
but  do  we  not  know  how  much  may  sometimes  be  told  by  a  single 
word,  or  glance,  or  sigh  ? 

'"  No,"  she  answered ;  "  it  is  my  first  visit  to  New  York  for 
several  years.  I  wished  to  look  at  its  familiar  streets  once  more, 
to  visit  a  few  friends,  who  are  still  bound  in  it,  and  see  what 
progress  the  world  is  making." 

I  went  on  to  speak  with  enthusiasm  of  our  improvements — 
Taylor's,  the  Academy  of  Music,  the  Crystal  Palace,  etc.,  but  I 
stopped,  when  I  saw  the  smile  half  pitying,  half  ironical,  with 
which  she  listened  to  my  rhapsody. 

"Your  Taylor's  Saloon,"  said  she,  "is  a  barbaric  gewgaw,  as 
unpleasant  to  a  refined  taste,  as  a  Chinese  band  is  to  a  musical  ear. 
Your  Academy  of  Music  seems  ready  to  crush  you  with  its  heavi- 
ness and  profusion  of  ornament.  Your  Crystal  Palace  js  a  pretty 
show  building  of  itself,  but  out  of  all  harmony  with  its  uses ;  and 
with  its  plows  and  statuary,  steam  pumps  and  pictures,  is  as  gro- 
tesque and  discordant  an  exhibition  as  can  well  be  conceived;  yet 
it  is  a  very  fair  epitome  of  civilization,  and  a  failure,  like  that." 


ESPERANZA.  1 1 


"  But  did  you  find  nothing  in  New  York  to  admire  ?  "  I  asked, 
with  a  shade  of  bitterness  at  this  wholesale  desecration  of  our  idols. 

"Yes;"  she  calmly  replied,  "there  are  things  which  discordant 
institutions  can  not  utterly  spoil,  and  others,  which  are  signs  of 
progress.  I  found  human  hearts,  not  yet  crushed  or  withered.  1 
saw  a  few  beautiful  women  and  children ;  some  pictures,  with 
promise  in  them — and  ships,  and  steamers.  I  have  heard  good 
music  well  rendered.  In  making  my  purchases,  I  found  some 
sensible,  honorable  merchants,  and  manufacturers  evincing  much 
skill.  For  the  rest,  I  found,  as  always,  a  vast  aggregation  of  mise- 
rable humanity,  fretting,  struggling,  and  wearing  itself  out  in 
wretched  conditions,  with  no  eye  to  pity  and  no  arm  to  save.  I  do 
do  not  wish  to  see  it  again,  or  to  think  of  it." 

"Well,  I,  too,  hope  soon  to  leave  it  all,"  I  said;  "I  am  going  to 
find  some  growing  little  village  in  the  far  west,  where  I  can  build 
a  little  cottage  in  a  little  garden,  marry  a  little  wife,  keep  a  little 
store,  and  be  happy.  We  shall  have  no  opera,  but  my  Clara  will 
play  and  sing  to  me ;  and  we  shall  take  the  papers,  and  magazines, 
and  be  very  happy." 

I  wondered  at  myself,  for  this  frankness,  but  it  seemed  as  natural 
to  me  to  open  my  heart  to  her,  as  to  breathe.  She  turned  toward 
me,  and  seemed  to  look  through  me,  into  my  inmost  self,  with  a 
calm  sad  look.  I  felt  the  spell  of  her  presence,  as  if  her  being  took 
hold  of  mine.  At  length  she  said,  in  low  tones,  but  clear  and 
penetrating — "■  My  friend,  this  is  not  your  destiny." 

"Why  not?" 

"  Because  I  perceive  that  you  are  worthy  of  a  higher  and  better 
one ;  that  you  are  not  only  capable  of  a  truer  life  than  the  one  you 
have — both  hopefully  and  scornfully  pictured,  but  that  you  have 
the  wish  for,  if  not  the  idea  of,  a  life  which  will  better  satisfy  your 
nature." 

"  If  you  can  tell  so  much,  will  you  not  predict  my  future  ?"  I 
asked. 

"  Your  future  is  before  you,"  she  said,  with  a  certain  impres- 
siveness,  I  can  not  describe.  "  It  will  be  fulfilled  from  day  to  day. 
This  now,  is  the  future  of  your  yesterday.     Were  you  not  brought 


1 2  EsPERANZA. 

to  me ;  and  will  not  this  meeting  influence  all  your  future  life  ? 
Should  I  speak  to  you  in  this  way,  if  I  were  not  assured  of  it?" 

Every  sentence  she  uttered,  plunged  me  into  deeper  depths  of 
unknown  feeling,  and  newly  awakened,  or  forgotten  thought.  It 
was  abruptly,  almost  rudely,  but  very  earnestly,  that  I  asked — 
"  who  are  you  ?  " 

The  light  of  a  beautiful  smile  swept  over  her  face,  and  dimpled  in 
her  cheeks. 

"  I  am  a  human  sister  of  yours,"  she  said,  "  if  you  please  to  own 
me.  I  am  some  years  older  than  you,  and  a  good  deal  wiser.  For 
the  rest,  I  am  what  you  see,  and  feel  me  to  be." 

"  I  am  well  satisfied  with  all  I  see  and  feel,"  I  said. 

"  That  is  not  quite  true.  With  what  you  see,  perhaps ;  not  with 
what  you  feel.  Your  attraction  to  me  conflicts  with  your  idea  of 
duty  to  another.  You  distrust  yourself,  and  still  more,  the  little 
wife,  that  is  to  live  in  the  little  cottage,  in  the  little  garden,  and  so 
on,  like  the  house  that  Jack  built." 

"  Distrust  her  ! " 

"  Oh,  only  her  estimation  of  your  present  occupation  and  emo- 
tions." 

It  was  my  thought :  but,  Clara,  dear !  how  could  she  know  it  ? 
It  is  true,  that  you  often  have  intuitions,  which  tell  you  of  my  feel- 
ings, before  they  are  spoken ;  but  that  is  because  our  hearts  are 
one : — how  should  this  woman  be  able  to  penetrate  my  most  secret 
life,  and  read  in  it  things  which  I  have  tried  to  conceal  from  myself. 
For  it  is  true,  that  this  life,  even  that  which  I  go  to  seek,  and  hope 
to  enjoy  with  you,  does  not  satisfy  me.  Yet  it  seems  the  best  that 
is  possible  to  us,  here  upon  the  earth. 

"  But  I  have  not  satisfied  your  curiosity,"  she  continued,  after  a 
pause  of  a  few  minutes,  during  which  she  seemed  to  be  considering 
as  to  what  she  had  best  tell  me.  "  You  see  that  I  am  a  woman  and 
a  sister ;  my  age,  and  external  appearance  are  open  to  your  obser- 
vation. You  can  judge  of  my  mind  and  culture,  by  my  conversation. 
There  is  no  reason  to  complain,  I  think,  of  distance  or  reserve,  in 
my  behavior.  If  the  form  and  features,  looks  and  tones,  are  the 
expressions  of  the  Spiritual  or  inner  life,  it  is  for  you,  according  to 


ESPERANZA.  13 

your  opportuaities,  to  get  acquainted  with  me.     Why  should  you 
not  know  me,  as  well  as  I  know  you  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know  why  ;  but  you  seem  to  belong  to  some  world  I  am 
not  acquainted  with.  I  met  you  in  the  cars,  as  I  might  any  other 
lady  traveler.  It  is  not  strange,  in  this  country,  for  a  lady  to  travel 
alone,  any  distance.  You  have  been  to  New  York,  visiting  and 
making  purchases,  and  there  is  nothing  unprecedented  in  that,  still 
I  feel  that  I  do  not  know  you.  There  is  a  mystery  somehow  or 
somewhere,  which  I  can  not  yet  unravel." 

"  All  in  due  time,  my  friend,  if  you  prove  worthy ;  "  she  replied 
gaily,  ''  but,  in  the  mean  time,  would'nt  you  like  to  know  some  little 
particulars ;  whether  I  am  married  or  single ;  whether  I  afli  called 
Susan  or  Kate ;  or  Brown  or  Smith  ?  " 

"No,"  said  I,  heroically.  "Those  are  all  external,  accidental, 
or  conventional  matters,  and  of  slight  importance.  Your  being 
married  or  otherwise  can  be  nothing  to  me,  and  what  is  in  a  name  ?  " 

"  It  is  convenient,  sometimes — you  have  one,  I  hope." 

Here  I  had  been  as  good  as  asking  a  lady  her  name,  and  had 
not  yet  given  her  my  own.  I  apologized  for  this  stupidity,  took  a 
card  from  my  pocket,  and  gave  it  to  her.  She  looked  at  it  musingly 
and  said — 

"Frank  is  a  good  name,  and  Wilson  a  common  one;  was  your 
father  a  clergyman  ?  "  I  nodded  assent.  "  Your  mother  was  a 
Harding;  excuse  my  questionings;  curiosity  is  a  woman's  weak- 
ness, you  know." 

I  answered  afl&rmatively,  with  an  increasing  excitement  of  my  own. 

"Then  we  are  almost  relations,"  said  she;  "for  I  knew  your 
mother,  and  loved  her  before  you  did.  She  was  my  teacher,  before 
her  marriage.  I  have  often  wished  to  see  her,  before  she  went 
away ;  and  now  she  is  very  pleasant  to  me." 

0  Clara  !  was  it  the  Spirit  of  that  sainted  mother,  who  guided 
me  to  that  woman,  who  seems  to  me  so  good,  and  pure,  and  wise  ? 
But  you  shall  judge,  for  I  shall  write  all  I  can  of  her.  She  would 
love  you,  and  you  would  feel  toward  her  as  I  do.  I  asked  her 
no  question  further,  but  left  her  to  tell  me  what  she  would ;  but  she 
said  no  more  for  a  time,  looking  out  upon  the  savage  scenery  of  the 


14  ESPERANZA. 


mountains  through  which  we  were  passing.  I  had  the  unopened 
morning  papers,  but  had  no  desire  to  read.  The  presence  in  which 
I  sat,  even  with  the  various  spheres  around  me,  and  amid  the  roar 
of  the  train,  and  the  fljing  scenery,  seemed  to  raise  me  up  to  a  new 
plan  of  feeling  and  thought.  I  sat  in  this  presence,  which  seemed 
to  surround  me,  in  a  life-sphere,  with  which  my  own  mingled,  like 
the  harmony  of  musical  chords.  I  find  it  difficult  to  express  this 
sense  of  the  pure,  rich  life  of  this  woman,  which  seemed  to  the 
inner  sense  like  the  prevading  aroma  of  apple  blossoms,  and  gifted 
with  a  penetrating  power  like  magnetism. 

Seeming  to  read,  or  rather  to  feel,  my  thoughts,  she  turned  to 
me  and  said  :  "  I  am  very  glad  that  I  have  met  you ;  and  that  you 
are  so  well  developed,  and  so  little  injured,  as  I  find  you.  You 
have  your  mother's  looks,  and  her  heart.  She  was  a  pure,  good 
woman,  bound  up  in  her  creed,  which  fettered  her  reason,  but  could 
not  destroy  her  afiectionate  nature.  Are  you  free  from  the  bondage 
of  her  theology  ?  " 

"  I  reverence  the  memory  of  my  mother,"  I  said,  "  and  I  try  to 
believe  and  do  as  the  world  wishes  me  to." 

"  But  not  with  entire  success,  I  imagine,"  she  said  kindly. 
"  "What  your  mother  wished,  when  she  was  here,  and  what  she 
wishes  now,  may  be  quite  different.  She  sees  now  that  many  of 
her  former  ideas  were  erroneous,  and  seeks  to  impress  your  mind 
with  her  present  views  of  truth  and  goodness.  Do  you  not  find 
your  deepest  life  revolting  against  the  creeds  and  forms  in  which 
you  were  educated  ?" 

"  It  is  true — but  I  fear,  sometimes,  that  it  is  wrong  to  yield  to 
such  feelings  ?  " 

"  Do  you  find  that  they  incline  you  to  wrong  doing  ?  " 

"  Rather  the  reverse." 

"  Do  your  beliefs  and  your  loves  seem  to  you  to  be  matters  of 
volition  ?" 

"  I  can  not  see  that  they  are." 

''  Is  it  not  best,  then,  to  leave  them  in  freedom ;  giving  the  soul 
liberty  to  expand,  and  grow,  and  advance  in  its  true  life  ?  " 

I  could  not  answer,  for  I  was  full  of  thought.     This  may  not 


ESPERANZA.  15 


come  to  you  as  it  did  to  me,  so  much  was  in  the  tone,  the  manner, 
the  pure  articulation,  and  musical  modulations ;  so  much  more  in 
the  expression  of  her  face,  and  the  magnetism  of  her  presence.  I 
pondered  what  she  said,  and  the  far  reaching  meanings  of  which 
her  few  words  were  but  a  faint  shadowing. 

"  If  belief  is  spontaneous  and  involuntary,"  I  said  at  length, 
"  if  love  is  a  free  attraction  of  the  Spirit,  not  to  be  controlled  by 
others,  nor  even  by  ourselves,  what  becomes  of  all  our  sects,  creeds, 
and  social  laws?" 

She  only  smiled  at  this  question. 

"  Marriage,  for  example,  is  a  solemn  promise,  or  contract  to  love 
one  and  one  only,  until  death  shall  part  them." 

"No  longer  ?  "  she  said  very  quietly,  "  What  then  ?  " 

"  This  world  is  as  far  as  our  laws  can  compel  obedience,  or  pun- 
ish the  violation  of  a  contract,"  I  replied — but  my  mind  darkened 
with  the  doubt,  whether  such  contracts  can  bind,  or  such  penalties 
ensure  the  love  of  any  being.  And  I  found  employment  for  all  my 
reflective  powers;  in  which  I  was  not  disturbed;  for  she  sat  in 
perfect  composure,  inviting  no  conversation,  and,  as  I  imagined, 
silently  aiding  me  in  the  solution  of  these  problems. 

The  train  stopped  for  dinner,  and  I  rose  and  asked  my  companion  if 
she  would  dine  with  me. 

"  Excuse  me,"  she  said,  in  an  entirely  different,  and  playful 
mood.  "  I  am  not  fortunate  in  Kailroad  dinners  ;  and  prefer  to 
cater  for  myself.     Will  you  not  join  me  ?     I  have  enough  for  both." 

I  could  not  resist  the  temptation.  She  opened  a  basket,  filled 
with  delicious  peaches,  plums,  and  a  kind  of  cake,  which  seemed 
made  expressly  to  eat  with  them.  When  we  had  eaten,  she  poured 
from  a  small  traveling  flask,  into  a  goblet  that  packed  with  it,  a 
glass  of  a  bright,  pure,  delicate  wine,  and  drank  it ;  and  then,  pour- 
ing out  another,  gave  it  to  me.  There  was  no  afiectation  of  offering 
it  to  me  first.  She  took  it  simply  as  her  right,  and  to  set  me  the 
example.  Was  it  not  beautiful?  I  had  drank  good  wines,  but 
never  such  as  this — and  as  I  tasted  the  last  drops,  enquiringly,  she 
answered,  and  said  : 

"  I  saw  the  grapes  ripen,  and  helped  to  pick  them.     I  assisted  in 


IG  ESPERANZA. 

making  the  wine,  and  know  that  it  is  pure  and  good.  It  has  the 
aroma  of  our  home;  the  love  of  my  loved  ones. 

I  wirihed  to  ask  of  that  home,  and  those  loved  ones,  but  I  could 
not — for  if  you  think  I  have  any  familiarity  with  her,  I  have  not 
yet  succeeded  in  describing  her.  True,  her  presence  is  repose ;  her 
sphere  is  full  of  kindness ;  she  seems  to  know  my  thoughts ;  her 
own  are  often  spoken  without  a  word.  But  a  familiarity,  or  the 
indulgence  of  an  impertinent  curiosity,  or  paying  a  trifling  compli- 
ment to  her,  I  can  not  imagine.  I  think  she  might  pass  around  the 
world,  and  never  see  a  man  who  would  not  treat  her  with  reverence. 

It  is  very  late,  my  Clara,  and  the  day's  ride,  even  with  so  much 
to  interest  me,  was  long  and  wearisome.  New  thoughts  and  feelings 
also  helped  to  exhaust  me ;  though  the  influence  that  inspired  them 
seemed  to  sustain  me.     I  must  finish  my  letter. 

We  left  the  New  York  and  Erie  Koad,  as  you  will  see  by  the  map 
I  gave  you,  at  Elmira,  and  came  to  Canandaigua,  and  thence, 
over  a  flat,  dull  country,  to  Niagara.  Over  the  last  portion  of  the 
route  the  road  was  uneven,  the  cars  noisy,  and  my  companion  rested 
and  perhaps  slept.  As  we  approached  our  journey's  end,  she 
pointed  me  to  the  broad  river  Niagara,  Grand  Island,  and  Navy 
Island,  and  the  distant  lights  in  the  Canadian  villages. 

"  What  hotel,"  I  asked,  ^'  do  you  propose  to  stop  at  ?  " 

"It  is  indifferent — we  will  try  the  International." 

"  Shall  I  see  to  your  baggage  ?  "  I  asked,  hoping  now  to  ascertain 
what  I  had  not  wished  to  inquire. 

"Yes,  if  you  will  take  the  trouble,"  and  she  gave  me  a  check  for 
her  trunk.  "  You  will  want  my  name  to  enter  on  the  register. 
Just  now,  I  do  not  happen  to  have  any  at  my  disposal.  Perhaps 
you  will  lend  me  yours." 

Forgive  me,  dear  Clara,  for  what  I  am  about  to  confess  to  you. 
I  have  asked  her  forgiveness,  with  tears,  and  she  has  pardoned  me. 
I  said,  hastily,  and  most  mistakingly  : 

"Shall  I  write  Mr.  Frank  Wilson  and "     The  word  was 

not  spoken,  but  she  knew  what  it  would  have  been,  and  quick  as 
lightning,  yet  very  gently  and  sadly,  said — 

"  Sister  ! " 


ESPERANZA.  17 

"  The  word  recalled  me  to  myself.  I  silently  handed  her  into 
the  omnibus,  at  the  station,  secured  our  baggage,  and  vehen  we 
came  to  the  great  hotel,  I  waited  my  turn,  and  wrote  on  the  register 
"Frank  "Wilson  and  Sister."  Two  adjoining  rooms  were  given  us, 
and  we  went  to  supper.  She  ate  sparingly ;  but  conversed  cheer- 
fully about  the  morrow,  and  challenged  me  to  a  trip  to  Canada, 
below  the  Falls,  before  breakfast.  With  a  pleasant  good-night,  she 
left  me  in  the  parlor,  and  went  to  her  room;  and  I  to  mine.  0 
Clara !  I  would  have  given  so  much,  rather  than  to  have  thought 
that  unspoken  thought.  I  was  wi'etched  as  I  deserved  to  be.  Your 
picture  looked  at  me  reproachfully.  I  had  forfeited  her  esteem.  I 
took  out  my  paper,  but  could  not  write. 

As  I  sat  in  this  mood,  listening  to  the  solemn  roar  of  the  near 
cataract,  there  came  a  knock  to  my  door.  My  heart  bounded  to 
meet  it.  I  opened ;  it  was  she ;  but  how  radiantly,  how  divinely 
beautiful.  Fresh  from  a  bath,  her  traveling  dress  exchanofed 
for  an  exquisite  white  wrapper,  she  came  to  me  with  a  bright 
smile,  and  in  a  voice  of  music  said : — 

"  Brother  :  have  you  not  something  to  say  to  me  V 

"  Yes,  one  word;"  I  said,  with  the  tears  gushing  from  my  eyes, 
and  sinking  on  my  knee  before  her — ''Forgive !" 

She  bent  down,  silently,  and  gently  kissed  my  forehead.  Peace 
came  into  my  heart.  She  gave  me  her  hand,  and  I  rose  and  pressed 
it  to  my  lips. 

"  Good  night,  my  brother ! "  she  said  softly,  and,  like  an  angel, 
vanished. 

Good  night,  my  Clara  ! 
2 


II. 

A  DAT  AT   NIAGARA. 

Darling  !  I  have  seen  Niagara !  Henceforth  this  wonder  of 
nature  is  to  live  in  my  memory,  associated  with  thoughts  and  feel- 
ings which  will  mold  all  our  future.  How  much  I  wished  that  you 
were  with  me  !  Yet,  I  have  the  fear,  that,  though  it  might  have 
been  a  happier  day  for  me,  it  would  have  been  less  full  of  the  des- 
tiny, that  this  future  has  in  store  for  us. 

I  slept  sweetly,  with  your  image  on  my  heart,  lulled  by  a  mur- 
mur that  seemed  to  come  from  the  center  of  the  earth,  mingling  in 
deep  throbbings  with  the  roar  of  the  nearer  rapids.  I  was  waked  by 
a  light,  playful  tapping  on  the  door,  which  might  have  connected 
the  two  rooms,  and  I  sprang  up,  and  opened  my  blinds  to  the  sun- 
shine, and  the  mist-cloud,  tinged  with  rainbows.  ., 

In  a  few  moments  I  was  in  the  great  reception-room,  on  the  first 
floor,  where  my  beautiful  companion  welcomed  me  with  a  cheerful 
"  good  morning."  When  I  apologized  for  being  late,  she  said, 
"  You  write  long  letters.  I  went  to  sleep  by  the  scratching  of  your 
pen.     I  hope  you  have  given  me  a  favorable  introduction." 

We  sallied  out  of  the  hotel,  and  I  took  a  new  look  at  her,  with 
rested  eyes,  and  by  the  morning  light.  She  seemed  younger  and 
fairer  than  yesterday ;  for  her  silver  gray  walking  dress  was  the 
perfection  of  a  morning  costume  for  such  a  jaunt  as  ours;  and  it 
was  only  when  she  spoke,  in  her  more  serious  moods,  that  it  seemed 
that  she  must  be  as  old  as  I  judged  her  yesterday. 

"  Shall  I  be  your  guide  ?  "  she  asked,  "  for  every  rock  and  tree 

seems  familiar  to  nie,  and  it  is  a  great  pleasure  to  introduce  one  to 

strange  scenes  " 
18 


ESPERANZA.  19 


"  Yes — I  am  strange  to  you ;  but  I  ought  not  to  be.  It  is  you 
who  are  really  strange ;  and  I  seem  so  to  you  only  because  I  am 
natural  You  see  so  little  of  what  is  genuine  in  men  and  women, 
that  a  simple  honesty  and  natural  freedom  surprise  you. 

"  Now,  lend  me  your  eyes,  as  well  as  your  ears ;  follow  me  down 
this  stairway,  and  do  not  look  up  until  I  tell  you." 

I  did  as  she  directed.  I  went  down  the  hundred  and  fifty  feet  of 
precipice,  by  a  very  convenient,  but  provokingly  artificial  covered 
stair  case,  with  the  roar  growing  every  moment  more  tumultuous. 
I  followed  my  guide,  with  downcast  eyes,  seeing  only  the  broken 
masses  of  limestone,  agitated  waters  beating  among  them,  and  a 
pair  of  delicate  feet  and  ancles,  picking  their  way  daintily  over 
them.  The  roar  grew  louder  and  nearer;  the  ground  trembled ;  the 
spray  came  in  gusts  in  my  face,  when,  gaining  the  surface  of  a  flat 
rock,  my  fair  guide  laid  her  hand  on  my  arm,  and  said,  reverently, 
''  look  up." 

A  torrent  of  bright  water  seemed  pouring  out  of  heaven.  Those 
who  are  disappointed  with  the  first  view  of  Niagara  do  not  get  such 
a  view  as  this.  I  stood  in  an  ecstasy  of  astonishment  and  delight. 
My  eye  swept  along  the  American  fall,  near  whose  extremity  I 
stood,  past  the  walls  of  Iris  Island,  into  the  great  Horseshoe,  where 
the  mass  of  the  mighty  river  pours  down,  and  whence  come  those 
deep  pulsating  thunders,  to  the  Table  Rock  of  the  Canadian  shore. 

I  shall  not  attempt  to  describe  the  indescribable  majesty,  and 
terror,  and  beauty  of  that  scene.  The  waters,  which  pour  over  the 
rim  of  the  cataract,  a  deep  blue,  almost  green,  fell  in  the  morning's 
sunlight,  in  vast  columns  of  glittering  diamonds,  and  then  rose 
again  in  clouds  of  mist  on  which  were  painted  arching  rainbows. 

Retracing  our  steps,  we  were  soon  seated  in  a  row  boat,  and  em- 
barked upon  the  boiling  cauldron,  into  which  this  world  of  waters 
pours  its  everlasting  flood.  The  morning  breeze  from  Ontario  blew 
gently  up  the  great  gorge,  that  the  cataract  has  opened,  which  is 
spanned  by  the  beautiful  Suspension  Bridge ;  and  this  upward  breeze 
saved  us  from  the  misty  showers,  while  an  extra  fee  to  the  boatman 
induced  him  to  skirt  along  the  eddy  of  the  American  shore  and 
Goat  Island,  so  as  to  cross  the  great  gulf  as  near  as  possible  to  the 


20  ESPEEANZA. 


principal  fall.  I  had  the  best  view,  and  the  fullest  enjoyment  of 
the  scene.  Its  terrors  were  lost  to  me,  in  its  glorious  majesty  and 
beauty ;  and,  the  feeling  of  sublimity,  with  which  I  was  impressed, 
mingled  harmoniously  with  my  sentiments  toward  the  strange,  but 
beautiful,  and  I  believe  and  am  sure,  most  pure  and  noble  woman, 
who  sat  by  my  side,  enjoying  all  my  enjoyment  of  these  new  emotions. 

The  sublimity  of  Niagara  is  like  that  of  the  ocean  and  the  stars, 
but  more  concentrated. 

Our  boat  was  swept  down  by  the  torrent,  and  made  its  landing 
among  the  rocks,  where,  refusing  the  proiFers  of  accommodating 
Jehues,  we  walked  gaily  up  the  road  built  on  the  side  of  the 
almost  perpendicular  precipice.  But,  at  every  few  steps,  I  stopped, 
and  turned  to  get  a  new  view.  The  sun  was  now  shining  full  upon 
the  whole  long  line  of  the  falls,  whose  height  seems  lost  in  their 
extent.  From  the  middle  of  the  great  Horseshoe,  where  I  could 
see  that  the  mid  channel  of  the  river  lay,  there  rose  a  cloud,  like  the 
smoke  of  a  furnace,  high  in  the  heavens.  The  white  gulls  were 
sailing  in  the  air ;  and  the  scene  grew  in  beauty,  as  it  lost  in  the 
terrors  of  proximity. 

My  fi'iend  looked  on  it  all,  calm,  silent,  pointing  to  one  feature 
or  another  with  finger  or  parasol,  saying  few  words,  but,  as  I  saw 
and  felt,  watching  my  features,  as  if  to  see  how  they  reflected  the 
scene ;  sometimes  she  laid  her  hand  upon  my  arm,  sometimes  on 
my  shoulder.  Once,  when  half  way  up  the  cliff,  her  enthusiasm 
broke  forth,  but  not  at  the  cataract.  "  Oh  !  my  dear  flowers,"  she 
exclaimed,  and  in  an  instant  she  was  clambering  up  the  steep  side 
of  the  cliff,  I  could  hardly  tell  how,  and  eagerly  picking  the  wild 
flowers  that  grew  from  the  clefts  of  the  rocks,  where  the  moisture 
was  dripping  from  every  seam  of  the  limestone  strata. 

When  she  came  down,  with  a  hand  full  of  lovely  little  flowers, 
her  eyes  were  bright  and  moist,  and  her  cheeks  flushed. 

"  Here  they  are,  the  dear  ones ! "  she  said ;  "  the  same  that  T 
found  here  ten  years  ago.  They  are  not  only  sweet  and  beautiful, 
themselves,  but  fragrant  memories  cluster  round  them." 

"You  were  not  alone,  then  ; — nor  with  indifferent  company  VI 
remarked. 


ESPERANZA.  21 


She  looked  iu  my  eyes  with  her  clear,  open  look,  and  said  :  "  I  wag 
with  one  I  dearly  loved — but  a  true  friendship  is  not  indifference. 
Do  you  feel  it  so  ? " 

"  I  shall  be  very  grateful/'  I  said,  with  real  humility,  "  for  what- 
ever you  can  give  me." 

She  took  my  hand,  and  we  walked  up  the  rest  of  the  ascent,  hand 
in  hand,  like  two  children. 

Here  stands  the  Clifton  House,  the  resort  of  most  English,  and 
many  American  visitors,  with  its  pleasure  grounds  laid  out  too 
precisely  to  harmonize  with  the  savage  aspect  of  rock  and  flood 
around.  We  passed  along  the  margin  of  the  great  gulf,  stopping  at 
many  points  to  get  new  views  of  the  scene,  until  we  stood  on  Table 
Rock ;  and  then,  from  the  very  margin  of  the  descending  river,  fol- 
lowed its  torrents  down  into  the  chasm  into  which  they  plunged. 

She  stood  alone  with  her  thoughts  and  memories,  her  face  now 
calm  and  pale ;  her  eyes  looking  either  back  into  the  past,  or  for- 
ward into  the  future.  She  had  advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  over 
hanging  rock.  I  knew  there  was  no  danger  to  her  steady  nerves 
and  well-poised  spirit;  but  the  rapid  fall  of  the  water,  as  I  looked 
past  her,  made  her  body  seem  to  rise,  and  I  remembered,  with  a 
shudder,  the  fate  of  the  young  girl,  whose  fall,  a  few  rods  from  thia 
spot,  has  found  affecting  record.  I  sprang  forward,  and  caught  her 
firmly  by  the  wrist,  to  ensure  her  safety.  She  turned  with  a  sweet 
smile,  and  said : 

"The  spirit-world  is  beautiful,  and  I  have  some  dear  friends 
there,  but  my  work  here  is  not  accomplished.  This  life  has  come 
to  be  too  rich  in  blessings,  to  be  thrown  aside.  We  need  not  be  in 
haste  to  meet  the  future,  because  of  the  eternities." 

0  Clara !  how  precious  seemed  to  me  this  calm  and  beautiful 
faith  in  the  unseen  world. 

"  But  this  life,"  I  said,  "  is  so  poor,  in  its  hopes  and  possibilities, 
and  worse  than  poor  in  its  realities  to  most,  that  they  can  scarce  be 
blamed  for  flying  from  the  present  if  they  have  any  reasonable  hopes 
of  a  happier  future." 

"  Suicide,"  she  said,  ''  is  a  violence  to  nature,  only  justifiable  as 
an  escape  from  something  worse.     It  is   sometimes  a  right,  in  a 


22  ESPERANZA. 


world,  whose  imperfect  conditions  admit  only  a  choice  of  evils.  But 
all  destinies  are  onward,  and  the  fruition  of  all  our  hopes  is  before 
us.  Century  by  century  this  river  eats  its  way  through  these  rocky 
strata.  The  mountains  crumble,  and  the  valleys  are  filled  up.  The 
tree  grows  from  its  germ  to  its  destined  strength  and  beauty.  Hu- 
manity also  grows  and  advances  toward  its  future." 

"  True  of  the  race,  or  the  races,"  I  said,  "  this  may  be;  but  how 
of  the  individual  victim  to  the  imperfections  and  wrongs  around  us  ?  " 

"  The  eternities  are  ours,  and  justice  is  the  supreme  law.  You 
ask  God  to  be  merciful.  He  will  not  be  what  he  is  not  for  your 
asking;  but  it  is  enough,  if  He  is  just.  He  is  accountable  to  all 
His  creatures.  Evil,  privation,  discord,  are  stages  in  progress ;  they 
have  their  uses  to  the  undeveloped  spirit;  but  let  us  be  thankful 
that  we  are  emerging  from  them ;  and  that  the  time  has  come  for 
truth,  riches,  and  harmony.  Happiness  is  the  universal  aspiration, 
and  the  universal  destiny." 

"■  Happiness  for  all  VI  asked.  I  can  not  tell  you,  Clara,  with 
what  a  look  of  angelic  pity,  mingled  with  surprise,  she  turned  to  me. 

"  For  all !  "  she  repeated  softly.  "  Can  you  believe  there  is  in  all 
God's  universe,  one  human  soul  destined  to  an  existence  unworthy 
of  his  goodness  ?" 

I  have  never  felt  so  ashamed  of  a  creed  which  dooms  our  brethren 
and  sisters  to  utter  and  eternal  despair.  But  my  mind  was  darkened 
with  other  doubts. 

"  You  talk,"  I  said,  "  of  happiness  on  the  earth.  Are  we  worthy 
of  such  a  social  state,  as  some  of  our  sanguine  reformers  have  ima- 
gined. Is  humanity  yet  good  and  pure  enough  to  live  in  a 
harmonious  society  ?  " 

She  walked  away  from  the  brow  of  the  rock  on  which  we  were 
standing,   a  few  steps ;  then  turned  and  stood  before  me. 

"Look  at  me,"  she  said;  "I  am,  as  I  told  you  yesterday,  a 
human  sister  of  yours.  Am  I  good  enough  to  deserve  happiness  ? 
Were  yc'J.  as  good  as  you  believe  me  to  be,  do  you  not  think  we 
could  live  harmoniously,  purely,  and  happily?" 

"  Were  all  like  you,  I  could  believe  any  thing,"  I  hastened  to 
say. 


ESPERANZA.  23 


"  It  is  not  a  question  of  all,  but  of  some.  There  are  those,  who 
are  wiser  and  better  than  I,  living  nearer  to  the  life  of  the  heavens. 
There  are  many  who,  in  various  degrees,  are  so  far  freed  from  igno- 
rance, error,  and  evil  habits,  physical  and  spiritual,  as  to  be  able  to 
live  in  the  harmony  of  a  true  life.  I  am  but  one  of  many  loving 
women,  who  enjoy  upon  the  earth,  a  foretaste  of  the  freedom  and 
harmony  of  the  beautiful  life  of  the  heavens." 

I  was  impressed  with  the  simple  truthfulness  of  every  word  she 
uttered ;  yet,  it  was  so  strange,  so  different  from  what  I  had  ever 
heard.  I  looked  around,  to  be  sure  it  was  no  dream  ;  but  more  than 
the  fact  of  my  wakefulness  was  a  testimony  in  my  spirit,  that  what 
she  said  not  only  might,  and  should  be  true,  but  was  a  living  and 
present  reality. 

A  group  of  fashionable  ladies  from  the  Clifton  House  passed  by 
us ;  and  their  coquettish  airs,  and  frivolous  conversation,  offered  a 
contrast  which  deepened  my  impression. 

"  You  have  excited  my  curiosity,  and  my  hopes,"  I  said.  "  Will 
you  not  enlighten  me  further?" 

"I  have  said  too  much,  not  to  say  more,"  she  replied;  ''but 
this  world  requires  such  things  as  breakfasts.  If  you  please,  we 
will  take  a  carriage  here,  and  go  round  by  the  Suspension  Bridge. 
It  is  an  example  of  human  achievement  in  one  direction.  Let  us 
not  undervalue  ourselves. 

We  entered  a  carriage,  and  after  an  interesting  drive,  and  a  view 
of  that  beautiful  work,  and  its  surroundings,  came  back  to  the  hotel 
with  an  appetite. 


Night. — The  evening  of  my  second  day  of  absence  from  you,  0 
beloved  One,  has  closed  around  me ;  the  evening  of  a  day  full  of 
new  sensations  and  new  emotions.  How  much  of  life  is  sometimes 
crowded  into  a  single  day  ! 

After  breakfast  my  guide  went  to  her  room  to  write  some  letters, 
and  I  wrote  you  the  account  of  our  morning's  ramble.  When  I 
had  finished,  I  went  down,  and  found  her  ready  for  our  visit  to  Goat 
Island,  which  separates  the  American  from  the  British  fall;  though, 
as  the  boundary  line  of  the  two  countries  runs  in  mid  channel, 


24  ESPERANZA. 


it  gives  us  the  whole  of  the  lesser  fall,  and  more  than  half  the 
greater. 

The  mid-day  had  grown  sultry,  and  I  found  my  guide  dressed  in 
a  charming  robe  of  light  blue  stuff,  which  floated  in  ample  folds  of 
unstarched  gracefulness.  I  am  not  good,  you  know,  in  describing 
costumes.  I  could  never  answer  your  question,  "  what  kind  of  a 
bonnet  had  she  on  ? "  I  only  know  that,  in  this  case,  the  entire 
dress  seemed  as  clear  and  pure  an  expression  of  herself,  as  her 
language  or  gestures.  She  gave  me  several  letters,  in  the  most 
tasteful  envelopes,  directed  to  gentlemen  and  ladies  in  various  places, 
in  a  handwriting  full  of  elegance  and  character,  and  sealed  with  a 
seal  of  curious  device — a  peculiar  ring,  encircling  nine  stars.  I 
afterward  saw  such  a  ring,  on  the  third  finger  of  her  right  hand  ;  and 
she  wore  a  broach  with  nine  golden  stars,  set  in  a  peculiar  fashion. 

Going  toward  the  rapids  above  the  fiills,  which  themselves  form 
a  spectacle  of  great  power  and  beauty,  we  passed  over  the  bridge, 
which  spans  several  piers ;  how  built,  passes  my  engineering  skill. 
Near  the  further  end  we  found  a  group  of  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
looking  at  the  place  where  the  poor  man  clung  so  many  hours,  and 
then  went  over.  As  we  passed  along,  meeting  groups  of  visitors,  I 
saw  several  gentlemen  salute  my  guide,  with  great  respect.  She 
returned,  or  rather  invited  their  salutations;  but  no  one  approached 
to  speak  to  her. 

"  In  heaven's  name,  who  are  you  ?"  I  would  have  exclaimed,  but 
I  was  held,  as  by  a  spell,  from  making  any  obtrusive  inquiry.  We 
walked  slowly  through  the  walks  of  this  beautiful,  and  though  much 
visited,  still,  secluded  place ;  for  the  island  is  large,  nearly  covered 
with  forest  trees,  with  cool  walks  among  them.  At  the  best  points 
of  sight  are  seats  for  the  accommodation  of  visitors. 

As  we  sat  on  one  of  these,  where  we  had  watched  the  adventurous 
little  steamboat,  the  Maid  of  the  Mist,  with  her  deck  load  of  mummy 
looking  passengers,  dressed  in  yellow  oil-cloth  cloaks  and  hoods,  to 
save  them  fx'om  the  showers  of  spray,  while  she  ran  boldly  into  the 
foam-gulf,  and  then  fell  off  rapidly  down  the  tumultuous  tide — as 
we  sat  here  in  the  deep  noon-tide,  after  seeing  this  wondrous  voyage, 
without  caring  to  make  it,  she  said : 


ESPERANZA.  26 


''  It  is  time,  my  friend,  that  we  were  better  acquainted.  Can 
you  shut  out  the  old  world  of  forms,  customs,  and  prejudices,  as 
these  torrents  separate  us  from  the  lands  on  either  side  ?  " 

"I  can  try,"  I  said,  with  a  curious  sense  of  a  Robinson  Crusoe 
isolation,  in  very  pleasant  company. 

"  Well,  try.     First  of  all,  how  do  you  like  me  ?  " 

The  question  took  me  a  little  by  surprise.  I  am  afraid  1  blushed, 
and  hesitated ;  but,  remembering  Robinson  Crusoe,  I  summoned 
courage,  and  answered  : 

"I  admire  you  more  than  any  woman  I  ever  saw;  I  respect  you 
deeply,  and  am  ambitious  of  your  good  opinion  and  friendship.  I 
hardly  know  how  to  answer  to  the  word  like.  It  seems  too  weak  an 
expression,  for  the  kind  of  devotional  feeling  you  inspire." 

She  smile  a  gratified  smile,  which  was  not  one  of  vanity,  but  of 
hope ;  not  of  pride  in  herself,  but  pleasure  at  my  frankness  of 
expression,  and  perhaps  my  power  of  appreciation. 

"  In  investigating  some  things,"  she  said,  in  her  quiet  and 
unpretending  manner;  "it  is  needful  to  begin  with  the  outside, 
and  work  inward ;  but  with  the  human  ch-aracter,  it  is  best  to 
begin  at  the  center,  and  work  outward.  Will  you  tell  me  of  your 
loves?" 

0  Clara !  I  have  a  faint  suspicion  that  I  blushed  again.  But  she 
sat,  holding  my  hand  in  hers,  like  a  dear  elder  sister,  and  looking 
so  sweetly  kind  !  Once,  and  not  long  ago,  I  think  I  should  have 
fallen  on  my  knees,  and  said — 0,  divine  angel  of  my  life,  I  love 
you,  and  you  only.  But  that  was  before  I  knew  my  Clara.  So  I 
answered  bravely  : 

"  I  love  the  dearest  and  most  charming  little  girl  in  the  world. 
We  are  engaged  to  be  married  next  spring ;  meantime  I  go  with  what 
means  I  have  saved,  and  a  little  my  mother  left  me,  to  find  a  home." 

1  thought  a  shade  of  sadness  passed  over  her  countenance.  It 
might  have  been  the  remembrance  of  my  mother.  It  might  have 
been  the  thought  that  so  many  such  anticipations  of  happiness  as 
ours,  have  never  been  realized.     She  said,  then  : 

"  Does  it  seem  to  you,  my  friend,  that  this  love,  and  this  union, 
will  fill  up  the  capacity  of  your  loving  life  ?     Do  you  feel  secure  and 


26  ESPERANZA. 


justified  in  making  the  irrevocable  vow,  to  love  this  dear  one,  and 
no  other,  "  till  death  does  you  part." 

"It  seems  to  me/'  I  said,  "  that  this  love  so  fills  my  being,  as  to 
shut  out  the  possibility  of  another  ;  and  I  hope  that  even  death  may 
not  part  us." 

''If  it  is  a  true  and  integral  love,  it  will  not,"  she  said;  "but 
every  passion  asserts  its  eternity.  No  one,  until  taught  by  bitter 
experience,  ever  expects  a  love  to  change.  But  they  do.  The  love 
that  seems  to  fill  our  desires  and  capacities,  at  one  time,  in  a  few 
years  nay  seem  poor  and  mean;  and  expanding  souls  find  a  capacity 
for  more  loves,  than  they  can  often  find  to  fill  them.  Will  you  tell 
me  what  idea  you  have  of  freedom  ?  " 

I  will  not  try  to  tell  you  my  answer,  Clara  ;  for  I  just  then  caught 
sight  of  the  "  meteor  flag  of  England,"  on  the  opposite  shore,  and 
launched  out  into  some  apostrophe  to  liberty  worthy  of  a  ward  meet- 
ing.    I  was  checked  by  a  droll  look  of  surprise,  and  mj'  lady  said  : 

"  We  are  not  talking  of  such  external  matters,  as  they  discuss  at 
Tammany  Hall.  Our  political  freedom  is  well  as  a  step  in  progress, 
but  not  much  to  boast  of." 

Now  I  had  boasted  of  it  so  much,  even  in  the  sacred  precincts  of 
Old  Tammany  itself,  where  I  have  inhaled  so  much  bad  air,  gin,  and 
tobacco,  in  "  our  country's  cause"  that  I  felt  it  necessary  to  vindicate 
myself.     So  I  said — 

"  You  will  allow  that  this  is  a  free  country,  I  hope." 

"Not  very,"  she  said,  with  a  smile  of  provoking  assurance. 

"  Do  not  the  people  make  their  own  governments,  constitutions, 
and  laws  ?  " 

"  With  some  slight  exceptions,  perhaps.  A  few  millions  of 
negroes  do  not  vote." 

"  They  arc  represented  by  their  masters  and  owners." 

"  All  the  women." 

"  They  have  their  husbands  and  brothers  to  vote  for  them  and 
protect  them." 

"  Yes — I  read  of  a  case  of  this  protection,  a  day  or  two  ago,  in  the 
papers.  A  man  killed  his  wife  with  a  club.  But  this  is  not  all. 
Leaving  out  all  slaves,  and  women,  and  children,  who  seem  to  fare 


ESPERANZA.  27 


pretty  much  alike,  a  majority  governs,  and  the  minority  is  governed, 
x\nd  even  of  the  majority — are  you  not  politician  enough  to  know 
how  wire-pulling,  caucus  nominations,  and  party  discipline  reduce 
the  number  who  govern  to  a  few  individuals,  self-appointed,  and  not 
the  most  worthy  ?  Does  it  surprise  you  that  a  woman  should  know 
something  of  politics  ?  I  have  associated  with  men,  and  lived  at 
times,  in  the  heart  of  this  turmoil." 

It  was  all  too  true ;  and  I  concluded  to  let  Hail  Columbia  sing 
itself,  as  best  it  could. 

"  Now,  let  us  come  back  to  my  question.  Have  you  the  freedom 
in  your  spirit,  to  always  do  the  right  yourself,  and  to  allow  his 
rights  to  every  human  being  ?  " 

"  This  involves  the  question  of  what  is  right  ?  "  I  replied ;  "  is 
that  settled  ?  " 

"  The  first  right  is  the  right  of  each  one  to  settle  that  for  himself, 
and  to  pursue  his  own  right,  in  his  own  way,  so  long  as  he  does  not 
interfere  with  the  equal  right  of  every  other.  The  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence asserts  the  principle  crudely,  but  well  enough — in  the 
Right  to  Life,  Liberty,  and  the  Pursuit  of  Happiness.  It  is  a 
tautology  ;  for  either  term  includes  the  others.  The  right  of  Life, 
includes  all  the  conditions  and  uses  of  life  ;  Liberty  includes  all 
freedom  of  thought,  passion,  and  action.  The  Pursuit  of  Happiness 
means,  that  happiness,  being  the  true  end  of  existence,  no  one  has  a 
right  to  deprive  us  of  its  means,  which  a.  e  in  a  freedom  to  follow 
that  attraction  which  is  proportional  to  destiny." 

Do  I  tire  you,  my  Clara,  with  these  details  ?  I  know  I  can  give 
you  but  a  faint  impression  of  the  eloquence,  with  which  all  this 
was  uttered;  but  I  wish  to  write  it  down  while  it  is  fresh  in  my 
mind ;  and  I  wish  also  to  fulfill  my  promise,  in  giving  you  a  full 
account  of  every  incident  of  my  journey.  I  shall  wish  to  read  it  all 
over  again,  on  my  return.     So,  patience,  love  I" 

"  What  I  wish  you  to  think  of,"  she  said,  after  a  little  pause,  "  is 
whether  you,  who  arc,  in  many  respects,  so  pure  and  intelligent, 
have  the  idea  of  a  true  freedom,  which  will  not  allow  your  soul  to 
bo  bound,  nor  allow  you  to  bind  another.  Are  you  tolerant  of 
human  deficiency  and  error,  while  you  have  a  standard  of  absolute 


28  ESPERANZA. 


right  ?  Can  you  leave  even  this  loved  one  whom  you  wear  on  your 
heart,  free  to  love  another — if  another  love  should  come  to  bless 
her — or  would  you  make  it  a  curse  ?  This  is  the  first  central  ques- 
tion for  you  to  solve.     Study  it  well." 

"  I  will  try  to  do  so,"  I  said,  with  a  feeling  I  never  had  before. 
Clara,  we  must  try  to  leave  each  other  in  freedom.  God  forbid  that 
even  my  great  love  should  be  a  bond  to  you. 

We  walked  in  silence,  broken  only  by  the  musical  roar  of  the 
cataract,  the  tenor  of  the  rapids,  and  the  basso  profundo  of  the  Falls  j 
walked  away  from  the  latter,  and  past  the  former,  to  the  upper  end 
of  the  Island,  where  the  glassy  river  ripples  calmly  against  the  shore, 
in  beautiful  contrast  to  all  the  foam  and  tumult,  heard  in  softened 
murmurs  from  below. 

Here  we  sat  down  on  a  grassy  bank,  by  the  water's  side,  secluded 
from  observation  by  a  clump  of  evergreens,  which  also  protected  us 
from  the  sun. 

"  Is  it  not  beautiful,"  she  said,  after  looking  up  the  river.  "  I 
have  a  friend  who  crossed  up  there,"  pointing  up  the  eastern  channel, 
"  when  the  '  Rebels'  were  on  Navy  Island  yonder,  and  the  loyal 
troops  were  raining  shot,  shell,  and  rockets  among  those  trees.  A 
very  fine  spectacle  at  night,  he  says,  with  the  sound  of  the  cataract 
for  an  accompaniment.  Happily,  the  trees  sustained  all  the  damage. 
But  a  truce  to  all  wars,  great  and  little.  To-morrow  we  go  on  our 
iourney  J  is  it  not  so  ?  " 

"Bo  loef" 

"  If  you  choose  to  accompany  me,  toe  do.  Have  you  any  settled 
route ;  or  selected  destination  ?  " 

"  I  had  thought  of  going  to  Wisconsin ;  crossing  to  Minnesota, 
and  then  south  through  Iowa,  and  perhaps  to  Kansas,  and  back  by 
the  rivers — or  even  round  by  New  Orleans  and  the  sea." 

"  A  good  route  enough.  But  let  us  see  if  I  can  induce  you  to 
vary  it.  I  go  up  the  lake  to  Cleveland  ;  then  across  Ohio  to  Cin- 
cinnati; then  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  to  my  home.  Has  it 
ever  strack  you  as  a  possibility  that  a  home  which  makes  mc  happy, 
might  answer  for  you  ?  " 

"  If  I  knew  where  it  was  ?  " 


ESPERANZA.  29 


Can  not  you  trust  mc  to  take  you  there  ?  Then,  if  you  do  not  like 
it,  or  me,  the  world  is  all  before  you,  save  what  you  leave  behind." 

Though  couched  in  a  playful  badiuage,  I  felt  that  there  was  an 
earnest  good  faith  in  this  invitation.  I  held  out  my  hand,  and  let 
a  beneficent  destiny,  as  I  believe  it  to  be,  lead  me  onward." 

"You  are  very  good,"  she  said,  with  an  expression  of  joy ;  "you 
do  well  to  trust  me — better  than  you  now  imagine.  Oh  !  my  home  ; 
if  this  were  there,  and  you  were  one  of  ours,  do  you  know  what  I 
should  be  doing  ?  Stop,  I'll  show  you  j  will  you  please  unlace  my 
gaiter  ?  "  and  she  held  her  little  slender,  foot  to  me,  just  as  your 
little  sister  Flora  might.  -  And,  with  a  trembling  hand,  and,  I  con- 
fess, a  throbbing  heart — for  I  am  not  so  good  as  I  wish  to  be — I 
unlaced  the  pretty  boot,  and  took  it  off,  and  then  the  other. 

"  Thank  you  ! "  she  said,  with  the  utmost  simplicity ;  and  then, 
while  I  wondered,  she  carefully  unclasped  her  garters,  and  pulled 
off  a  pair  of  most  gossamer  webbed  stockings.  I  don't  know  what 
made  me  tremble,  or  how  I  could  doubt.  I  am  ashamed  of  myself. 
I  am  ashamed  of  the  world  in  which  I  have  lived.  But  my  doubts 
were  soon  ended.  Laying  her  things  by  my  side,  she  took  up  hei 
skirts,  as  gracefully  as  possible,  raising  them  nearly  to  the  knees, 
and  walked  into  the  river,  and  stood  there,  dabbling  her  white  feet 
and  most  beautiful  limbs  in  the  cool  water — a  picture  of  radiant 
happiness.  She  seemed  to  me,  Clara,  not  a  Venus  new  risen  from 
the  sea,  but  the  goddess  of  a  holy  freedom,  that  had  just  descended 
from  the  shining  heavens. 

When  she  had  enjoyed  the  coolness  of  the  pure  water,  which  had 
come  all  the  way  from  the  Great  Superior',  and  the  Lake  of  the 
Woods,  she  said,  expressly  to  wash  her  feet,  she  came  and  sat  down 
in  an  attitude  a  painter,  or  even  a  sculptor,  would  have  loved  to 
copy,  and  let  her  limbs  dry.  As  I  admired  them,  she  looked  at 
them,  and  then  at  me  with  such  a  happy  look. 

"  I  think  they  are  pretty,"  she  said.  "  I  am  very  glad  my  body 
is  beautiful ;"  and  after  a  moment's  pause,  she  added  softly — "  I  am 
also  very  glad  that  you  are  so  good.  Say  to  your  Clara,  that  she 
has  much  right  to  love  you,  for  you  are  worthy,  and  will  be 
more  so." 


30  ESPERANZA. 


I  write  it,  dear  Clara,  just  as  it  was  said.  Then  she  dressed  her- 
self without  my  help ;  and  I  knew  she  had  given  me  another  trial, 
and  was  thankful,  very  thankful,  that  I  had  borne  it  so  well.  And 
then  she  put  her  arm  in  mine,  and  we  walked  slowly  back,  scarcely 
looking  at  the  Falls  or  rapids,  to  dinner. 

And  dinner,  I  would  have  you  know,  is  rather  a  sublime  affair  at 
the  International.  So  I  dressed  for  it ;  that  is,  I  dressed  as  much 
as  our  fashions  allow  a  gentleman  to  dress.  And  when  I  went  into 
the  drawing-room  to  escort  this  newly  found  sister  of  mine  to  the 
table,  I  found  her  superb  as  a  princess.  I  will  try  to  tell  you 
"  what  she  had  on."  Her  hair  was  dressed,  rather  simply,  away 
from  her  forehead,  with  a  knot  of  the  little  wild  flowers  of  the  morn- 
ing, which  she  had  kept  fresh.  Her  dress  was  a  very  rich  brocade 
of  pale  lilac,  trimmed  with  falls  of  rich  lace,  and  made  just  within 
the  fashion.  Her  white  round  shoulders,  and  beautiful  bust  are  all 
her  face  and  contour  promised.  She  wore  diamonds  and  turquoise; 
but  every  ornament  seemed  to  have  some  special  use  and  meaning. 
I  have  the  idea  that  she  dressed,  not  for  the  company,  not  for  any 
impression  she  might  make  on  a  crowd  of  visitors;  certainly  not 
for  admiration,  but  for  me.  It  was  another  lesson — to  show  me 
that  a  true  life  includes  the  beautiful.  That  if  we  would  win  people 
to  knowledge,  virtue,  and  happiness,  we  must  not  begin  by  outraging 
their  taste.     How  many  reformers  have  made  this  grand  mistake. 

When  I  advanced  near  her,  I  know  not  how  the  feeling  of 
familiarity  had  vanished,  but  her  style,  elegance,  superb  beauty,  and 
more  superb  manner — impressed  me  as  if  she  were  a  queen — not 
an  actress  queen,  putting  on  haughty  airs  of  royalty,  but  a 
queen  of  nature,  born  to  her  sphere,  and  living  in  its  constant  recog- 
nition and  use.  _Do  not  think  it  strange,  Clara,  that  my  heart 
swelled  with  great  throbbings,  as  I  approached  her,  and  I  bowed  to 
her  with  a  genuine  humility.  Her  pure,  calm  eyes  surveyed 
me,  from  head  to  foot,  and  with  aft  approving  smile  she  extended 
her  hand  to  me.  The  gong  sounded  its  brazen  summons  with 
its  most  civilized  dissonance,  and  she  took  my  arm,  and  we  went  to 
dinner. 

I  wish  I  could  do  justice  to  that  dinner.  It  is  a  large,  high  room; 


ESPERANZA.  31 


at  the  end  a  recess,  iu  which  was  stationed  a  band  of  music.  A 
regiment  of  colored  waiters,  drilled  into  a  droll,  stiff,  imitation  of 
military  evolutions  adapted  to  a  dining-room,  brought  and  removed 
the  courses,  with  great  pomp  and  ceremony.  The  band  played  some 
appropriate  march  at  each  remove ;  then  there  was  a  waltz  for  the 
the  soup,  and  fish  was  eaten  to  a  polka.  It  was  a  little  tiresome, 
perhaps  ;  it  made  our  unsophisticated  country  friends  stare  a  little, 
but  they  soon  got  reconciled  to  it,  as  we  do  to  every  thing.  I  was 
very  much  amused,  and  commented  freely  to  my  companion. 

"  You  see  attempts  every  where,"  she  said,  "  at  order  and  har- 
mony. They  are  often  imperfect  and  grotesque,  but  they  show  the 
direction  of  our  aspirations. 

"  Here  is  a  collection  of  strangers,  inharmonic  and  discordant, 
whose  only  safety  is  to  hold  themselves  apart,  in  little  knots  and 
coteries.  How  few  here,  have  any  real  knowledge  of,  or  trust  in, 
much  less  any  love  for,  those  around  them.  We  are  played  to  by  a 
hired  baud ;  we  are  served  by  hired  waiters,  who  labor  under  the 
burden  of  caste.  It  is  cold,  discordant,  or  at  best  indifferent  and 
mercenary. 

"  Can  you  imagine,  in  a  far  more  beautiful  room  than  this,  a  com- 
pany of  free,  pure,  and  loving  men  and  women — all  acquainted  with 
each  other,  all  harmonized  in  groups  of  friends  and  lovers ;  genial, 
hopeful,  happy;  the  music  by  an  artist  group  playing  with  enthu- 
siasm, and  rewarded  by  plaudits ;  and  the  table  served  by  those 
with  whom  it  would  be  a  labor  of  love,  so  that  every  dish  would 
come  with  its  own  blessing  ?  Can  you  not  imagine  such  a  dinner  as 
this?" 

"  In  heaven,  perhaps ;  "  I  answered,  almost  bitterly. 
"Whatever  can  be  truly  conceived  of  the  Earth-life,"  she  said, 
"  is  possible,  and  practicable.     Ideas  were  given  for  realization.     I 
see  that  I  must  make  a  personal  application.     Do  you  not  think  that 
you  and  I  are  capable  of  being  members  of  such  a  society  ?  " 

"  I  believe,"  I  answered,  "  that  you  are  capable  of  any  good 
that  is  possible.  As  to  myself,  I  am  not  sure  that  I  am  good 
enough." 

*'  Could  you  not  cheerfully  play  in  the  band  that  furnished  music 


32  ESPERANZA. 


to  such  a  feast,  and  feel  rewarded  when  I,  and  those  younger,  and 
more  beautiful,  and  dearer  than  I,  thanked  you  for  that  portion  of 
the  repast  ?  " 

Such  a  question  did  not  need  an  answer. 

"  Can  you  not  ftmcy  yourself  very  happy  to  stand  behind  my 
chair,  and  supply  my  wants,  and  those  of  others  you  might  admire 
more  and  love  better  ?" 

You  know  it  would  make  me  happy  to  be  of  any  service. 

"  Others  have  devotion,  enthusiasm,  friendship,  love,  as  well  as 
you.  Civilization,  with  its  bigotries,  false  methods,  and  discordances, 
tends  to  cultivate  isolation  and  selfishness  in  us,  and  to  make  us 
believe  there  is  little  else  in  others  ;  but  it  is  not  truly  so,  my  friend. 
Humanity  is  better  than  we  give  it  credit  for.  There  is  more  devo- 
tion, more  heroism,  all  around  us,  than  we  reckon.  There  are  fifty 
men  in  this  room  who  would  risk  their  lives  to  save  mine ;  who 
would  brave  great  perils  to  save  a  house  on  fire — who  would 
volunteer  on  a  folorn  hope  in  any  great  emergency.  There  are  few 
women  here,  frivolous  as  our  social  habits  make  them  seem,  who  are 
not  capable  of  great  exertions,  and  great  devotion.  The  human 
heart  is  full  of  heroic  qualities  and  aspirations,  seeking  for  spheres 
of  action." 

I  shall  tire  you,  dearest,  if  I  go  on  giving  you  these  con versationsj 
but  they  had  an  inexpressible  charm  for  me. 

Our  dinner  itself,  was  of  little  account.  I  have  long  been  half  a 
vegetarian,  and  the  flesh  of  most  dead  animals  disgusts  me.  It  is  but 
a  modified  cannibalism;  and  some  of  these  dead  bodies,  set  on  our 
tables  to  be  eaten,  I  know  had  better  be  in  the  cemetery.  I  am  not 
satisfied  with  myself  when  habit,  or  some  remnant  of  savageism  in 
my  nature,  tempts  me  to  eat  food  worthy  only  of  a  savage  or  a  beast 
of  prey.  I  could  not  imagine  this  pui'e  and  lovely  woman,  putting 
flesh  between  her  lips.  She  quietly  waved  away  the  soup,  declined 
fish,  asked  the  waiter  to  remove  the  side  dishes  nearest  us,  and  took 
a  potatoe  and  some  maccaroni ;  and  afterward  some  pudding,  and 
fruit.  Of  course,  I  followed  her  example.  I  could  not  have  done 
otherwise,  had  I  wished. 

But  here  is  a  difiiculty.     I  felt  that  for  me  to  eat  flesh,  in  the 


ESPERANZA.  33 


presence  of  this  woman,  in  ray  present  relation  to  her,  would  be  an 
indelicacy  approaching  sacrilege.  It  seemed  to  me  in  the  strength 
of  her  pure  presence,  that  I  could  never  taste  it  again.  But  how 
shall  I  reconcile  this  conscience  with  politeness,  when  I  sit  by  a 
lady  who  devours  pork  chops  and  sausages  ?  But  this  was  a  ques- 
tion not  to  be  discussed  at  table,  and  I  postponed  its  further  con- 
sideration. 

Rcmerobering  the  little  draught  of  delicious  wine  in  the  cars 
yesterday,  I  turned  to  the  long  wine  list,  on  the  bill  of  fare,  and 
passed  it  to  my  friend.  She  ran  her  eye  over  it  and  said,  "it  is 
not  needful,  unless  you  require  it.  The  water  is  good,  and  wine 
belongs  to  occasions.  If  we  are  to  have  any  to-day,  it  will  be  fur- 
nished us." 

"What  this  meant,  I  could  not  conceive ;  but  a  few  moments  after, 
a  waiter  came  with  the  compliments  of  a  gentleman  whose  name  I 
did  not  distintly  hear,  and  filled  our  glasses  with  a  beautiful  hock 
wine.     She  said,  in  a  low  tone,  "  that  elderly  gentleman,  near  the 

head  of  the  table  ;  he  is  Mr.  ,  Senator  from .■"  *     He 

bowed  to  us  with  much  dignity ;  and  my  friend  raised  her  glass  to 
her  lips,  with  a  sweet  recognition  of  his  friendly  attention.  But, 
though  the  wine  was  excellent,  she  drank  but  little.  Later,  another 
gentleman  sent  us  champaigne  wine.  I  recognised  him  as  one  of 
those  who  had  saluted  us  on  Goat  Island.  She  tasted  this  as  before, 
but  would  not  permit  me  to  order  wine  and  return  the  compliments, 
as  I  wished  to  do.  And  I  see  now  that  it  was  a  very  "  snobbish" 
notion  that  made  me  desire  it. 

"  It  is  natural  to  wish  to  return  presents,  compliments,  and  hospi- 
talities; but  if  you  reflect  a  moment,  you  will  see  that  it  is  not 
delicate  to  do  so  at  once.  It  is  as  if  you  were  anxious  to  discharge 
a  debt.  If  you  meet  these  gentlemen,  at  any  future  time,  you  will 
have  the  right  to  reciprocate,  after  I  have  introduced  you.  You 
are  not  too  old  or  too  proud  to  have  a  mentor." 


*  In  the  revision  of  these  letters  for  publication,  I  have  thought  proper 
to  carefully  erase  or  change  every  personal  designation  that  might  com- 
promise any  one. — Editor. 


34  ESPERANZA. 


"No,"  I  replied,  as  we  rose  from  the  table,  "I  am  only  too 
happy." 

In  the  evening  we  had  music  and  a  dance.  When  I  entered  the 
drawing-room,  I  saw  my  friend  surrounded  by  a  group  of  ladies  and 
gentlemen,  among  whom  were  the  two  whom  I  have  mentioned.  I 
did  not  go  to  her  at  once,  respecting  the  mystery  which  enveloped 
her.  It  was  her  supreme  right  to  be  incognito,  if  she  chose,  and  a.s 
long  as  she  chose.  In  casual  glimpses,  I  saw  her  engaged  in  an 
earnest  conversation  with  the  group  that  had  gathered  around  her, 
and  who  listened  to  her  with  an  affectionate  respect  which  gave  me 
much  pleasure.  Pretty  soon  she  invited  me  with  a  movement  of 
her  fan,  to  approach,  and  introduced  me  to  the  ladies  and  gentlemen. 

"This  is  my  brother,"  she  said,  "who  has  been  very  kind  to  his 

unknown  sister.    Mr.  ,  said  she,  turning  to  the  senator,  will 

you  introduce  me  ?     The  best  of  men,  even,  have  some  curiosity." 

The  gentleman  took  my  hand  with  a  benevolent  smile,  and  said, 
"  Mr.  Wilson,  I  have  great  pleasure  in  presenting  you  to  my  dear 
friend,  Miss  Elmore.* 

I  did  not  feel  any  better  acquainted,  though  the  name  solved 
many  mysteries.  I  had  heard  my  mother  speak  of  her  very  lov- 
ingly, and  of  her  family. 

Music  interrupted  further  conversation.  A  professor  of  the  piano- 
forte displayed  his  skill,  playing  with  a  facility  of  habit,  but  a  lack 
of  feeling. 

A  lady  sang,  in  a  manner  that  showed  long  and  careful  training, 
but  it  seemed  to  me  with  a  superficialness  and  meretriciousness,  that 
gave  us  only  the  mere  shell  of  the  compositions  she  essayed. 

Mr. asked  Miss  Elmore  to  favor  us  and  the  company,  and 

was  warmly  seconded  by  the  rest  of  the  group — all  but  me.  I 
confess  that  I  feared  that  she  would  not  succeed — that  in  some  way 
she  should  fall  from  the  pedestal  where  I  had  enshrined  her.  She 
made  no  excuse,  but  looked  around  to  see  if  no  one  else  wished,  or 


*  For  convenience  sake  I  substitute,  iu  print,  this  name,  for  the  real  one, 
of  a  woman,  whose  relations  might  object  to  such  publicity,  and  for  other 
reasons  which  -will  become  apparent. — Editor. 


ESPERANZA.  35 


was  invited  to  play  —  then  took  the  arm  of  her  friend,  and  walked 
with  the  most  perfect,  simple  dignity  to  the  piano-forte.  A  murmur 
of  inquiry  and  approbation  went  round  the  room;  which  a  moment 
after  was  hushed  in  a  silence  so  profound  that  we  could  hear  the 
ticking  of  a  clock,  and  the  sound  of  the  cataract.  She  stood  so 
poised  and  graceful ;  her  movement  in  taking  off  her  gloves  was  a 
tableau;  she  sat  down — I  know  no  other  word — regally.     I  saw  a 

gleam  of  pride  in  the  deep  eyes  of  Mr. .     I  never  waited  for 

music  with  a  more  excited  expectancy. 

She  began  by  a  light,  trickling  run ;  then  struck  several  chords 
of  very  unusual  combinations,  and  fell  into  a  prelude,  which  was  an 
evident  improvization,  and  took  up  little  passages  of  several  operas, 
as  if  she  were  thinking  over  with  her  fingers,  what  she  would 
choose.  Finally,  she  struck  thrillingly  into  the  prelude  of  the 
cavatina  in  I  Puritani.  I  can  not  tell  you  of  voice,  or  execution. 
She  seems  perfect  in  both ;  but  the  soul,  the  feeling,  the  spell  of 
power,  with  which  she  gave  this  noble  composition,  was  so  fai 
beyond  any  thing  I  had  conceived  of,  that  I  can  not  pretend  to 
describe  it.  It  may  not  have  been  to  others  what  it  was  to 
me.  But  the  group  in  which  I  was,  sat  spell-bound,  and  I  saw 
tears  run  unchecked.  When  the  last  note  died  away  the  hush  con- 
tinued— there  was  not  a  sound.  The  clock  ticked,  the  cataract 
murmured ;  and  it  was  not  until  she  rose,  and  bowed  with  a  bright 
smile,  that  there  came  from  every  side  tumultuous  plaudits  and 
encores.  Gentlemen  pressed  around  her,  and  begged  her  to  favor 
them  again — to  sing  some  thing,  any  thing,  even  to  play  if  she  could 
not  sing. 

She  sat  down,  and  all  returned  to  their  seats.  She  commenced  a 
series  of  graceful  variations  on  the  air  of  Home,  Sweet  Home.  ''  Sing 
it ;  Oh  !  sing  it,"  came  to  her  in  appealing  murmers.  She  looked  at 
me  with  a  happy  smile,  and  sung  the  dear  old  song,  as  it  could  only  be 
sung  by  one  whose  memory  and  heart  is  filled  with  a  home  of  beauty 
and  love,  and  happiness.  And  this  time,  there  was  no  lack  of  tears, 
and  no  attempt  to  conceal  them,  and  no  stint  of  the  plaudits  which 
followed,  in  the  midst  of  which  she  glided  gently  back  to  our  corner, 
and  received  our  congratulation. 


III. 

BUFFALO,    AND   A  PILGRIMAGE. 

I  WRITE  to  you,  angel  of  my  life,  from  the  bosom  of  Lake  Erie 
and  the  cabin  of  a  steamboat,  whose  motion  must  account  for  any 
peculiar  eccentricity  in  my  chirography.  The  noble  boat  rolls  gently 
on  the  swells  of  this  blue  inland  sea.  The  passengers  have  retired 
to  their  state-rooms,  and  I  write  by  the  cabin  lamp,  alone.  In 
twenty-four  hours  I  hope  to  have  a  letter  from  you.  You  are  well 
and  you  love  me,  but  none  the  less  do  I  wish  you  to  tell  me  both. 

I  took  one  last,  lingering  look  at  Niagara  from  the  verge  of  the 
American  fall ;  reserving  for  my  final  view,  that  which  is  the  first 
to  most  visitors.  After  breakfast,  we  took  the  cars  for  BuiFalo, 
bidding  good-bye  to  some  pleasant  acquaintances,  who,  I  hope,  may 

be  our  friends  in  the  future.     Senator shook  me  kindly  by 

the  hand,  and  said :  "  You  are  highly  favored,  Mr.  Wilson ;  and  it 
will  be  your  own  fault  if  you  do  not  have  a  very  pleasant  journey. 
I  wish  you  much  happiness." 

"  I  hope,  sir,"  I  replied,  "  that  I  may  be  worthy  of  my  good 
fortune  and  your  good  wishes  ;  "  and  so  we  parted. 

Miss  Elmore  had  been  very  kind  to  me  all  this  morning ;  but 
there  was  a  musing  sadness  in  her  looks,  and  a  tender  melancholy 
in  her  tones,  which  interested  me.  She  said  little,  during  the  ride  of 
twenty  miles,  and  we  were  soon  in  the  heart  of  a  finely  built,  enter- 
prising city,  and  took  an  omnibus  to  the  American  Hotel. 

''  I  stop  here,"  she  said,  when  we  were  in  the  parlor,  "  to  make  a 
pilgrimage.  Y'ou  can  join  me,  or  not,  as  you  choose.  It  may  be 
neither  pleasant  nor  interesting  to  you." 

"  I  shall  never  lack  interest  or  pleasure  in  your  society,"  I 
answered.  Now,  Clara,  it  was  not  a  compliment.  This  is  not  a 
36 


ESPEEANZA.  .37 


■woman  to  be  flattered.  She  accepted  what  I  said,  just  as  I  said  it — 
as  the  simple,  frank  expression  of  my  thought.  If  she  had  thanked 
me,  or  made  any  similar  acknowledgment,  I  would  not  have  spoken 
in  this  way  again. 

"  Oh !  here  is  my  old  friend  of  ten  years  ago,"  said  she,  going  to 
a  piano-forte  in  the  corner,  and  striking  the  keys ;  "  but  it  has 
changed  in  that  time,  or  I  have.  I  played  and  sung  to  him,  and 
with  him  here,  in  this  very  room,  and  with  this  very  instrument. 
I  remember  what  I  sung ;  "  and  she  struck  with  a  beautiful  feeling 
into  that  beautiful  and  once  favorite  song — 

"  0,  Pilot,  'tis  a  fearful  night, 
There's  danger  on  the  deep  ; " 

and  when  she  came  to  the  lines 

"  Fear  not ;  but  trust  in  Providence, 
Wherever  thou  may'st  be," 

she  sung  them  with  an  expression  that  thrilled  me. 

"  I  sang  it  to  him,"  she  said,  rising  from  the  instrument,  and 
going  to  the  window,  opening  on  Main  street,  "  and  he  has  had 
reason  to  trust.  We  will  make  our  pilgrimage.  It  is  not  every  one 
I  would  allow  to  go  with  me,  but  you  will  know  him  one  day,  and 
you  are  wortky." 

I  gave  her  my  arm  and  we  went  into  the  street,  walked  round  a 
few  squares,  passed  through  the  little  enclosure  of  an  old  Court 
House,  and  came  to  a  prison. 

Here,  then,  was  the  pilgrimage.  I  was  curious,  but  Miss  Elmore 
is  not  one  you  can  ask  questions  of.  I  was  very  sure  that  at  the 
proper  time,  she  would  tell  mo  all  that  was  needful.  On  my  knock- 
ing at  the  gate,  the  jailor  came  and  opened  it.  She  passed  before 
me,  saying,  "  We  are  strangers,  and  wish  to  see  your  prison."  The 
man,  with  a  droll,  puzzled  look,  seemed  to  have  no  especial 
objection ;  but  asked,  "  is  there  any  particular  person  you  wish  to 
see?" 

"  No — not  at  present,"  she  answered.  "  A  friend  of  mine  once 
had  the  good  fortune  to  be  a  guest  of  your  establishment.  I  have 
the  curiosity  to  see  a  place  he  has  described  to  me." 


30  •  ESPERANZA. 


We  were  admitted  without  further  delay ;  first  into  the  yard, 
then  through  another  door  into  the  jail.  There  are  four  ranges  of 
small  cells;  two  on  the  ground,  two  reached  by  galleries.  The 
cells  open  outward  toward  the  walls.  The  windows  are  cross-barred 
with  iron,  and  the  doors  of  the  cells  the  same.  The  light  is  faint, 
and  the  air  foul  with  that  sickening  fetor,  which  belongs  to  the 
emigrant  ship,  the  hospital,  the  prison,  and  the  crowded  homes  of 
poverty  and  ignorance.  The  cells  were  full  of  vagrants,  small 
thieves,  burglars,  counterfeiters,  accused  persons  waiting  trial,  and 
witnesses.  As  we  went  in,  a  chorus  of  prisoners  in  the  further  cells 
was  singing  with  great  unction  a  highway  man's  song,  beginning — 

'  In  Dublin  city  I  was  bred  and  born, 

On  Stephen's  Green  I  die  forlorn  ; 
'Twas  there  I  lear'nt  the  saddler's  trade. 

But  was  always  counted  a  roving  blade." 

We  followed  the  jailor  round  the  lower  tiers  of  cells,  then  went  up 
to  the  narrow  gallery  that  gave  access  to  the  upper  tiers.  Wheu 
we  had  come  to  the  further  cell  on  the  right,  it  was  empty. 

'*  Will  you  permit  me  to  enter  this  cell  a  moment,"  she  said,  in 
a  low,  tremulous  voice,  to  the  jailor. 

He  unfastened  the  door  with  the  customary  professional  joke,  and 
she  entered.  It  had  been  papered  at  some  time,  and  was  in  better 
condition  than  the  other  cells ;  but  of  the  same  size — about  four 
feet  by  eight.  After  a  glimpse  of  the  interior,  I  called  away  the 
attention  of  the  jailor  by  some  inquiry,  leaving  her  in  the  cell.  In 
a  few  minutes  she  joined  us,  looking  pale  but  serene,  though  I  saw 
traces  of  tears.  As  we  went  out,  I  saw  her  silently  give  the  jailor 
a  gold  dollar;  and  as  we  walked  up  the  grassy  slope,  she  turned  and 
looked  a  moment  through  the  window,  covered  with  dust  and  spider's 
webs,  opposite  the  further  cell. 

I  drew  long  breaths  as  we  gained  the  pure  free  air  of  the  open 
street.  We  passed  a  theater  not  far  from  the  jail,  opposite  which 
she  paused  and  looked  up  a  moment,  then  smiled  and  said — "  now 
we  will  take  a  pleasanter  walk." 

So  we  walked  down  Main  street,  which  is  the  Broadway  of  Buffalo, 


ESPERANZA.  39 


down  among  the  warehouses  near  the  harbor,  and  going  up  the 
creek,  passed  over  a  bridge,  looked  at  the  fine  array  of  shipping — - 
steamboats  and  propellers — and  then  soon  found  ourselves  walking 
on  a  hard  sand  beach  by  the  side  of  the  lake,  whose  waves  were 
breaking  musically  at  our  feet.  Then  we  clambered  up  the  outer 
shelving  side  of  the  long  government  breakwater,  and  walked  along 
that  and  the  pier  which  forms  the  outer  side  of  the  harbor,  until  we 
passed  around  the  little  light-house  at  the  end,  and  then  sat  down 
on  the  smooth  rocks  in  its  shadow.  The  beautiful  city  lay  fair 
before  us,  and  all  its  hum  and  clatter  came  softened  across  the 
water;  while  westward  stretched  the  blue  lake,  north  opened  the 
Niagara  river,  its  outlet,  and  opposite  on  the  Canada  shore,  could 
be  seen  the  grassy  mounds,  which  mark  the  site  of  Fort  Erie. 

"  It  is  a  famous  place  in  border  story,"  said  my  companion  and 
guide.  "  In  the  war  of  1812,  the  little  village  that  was  the  Buifalo 
of  that  day,  was  burned  by  the  British  troops  and  their  Indian 
allies.  They  have  diflferent  allies  now,  but  the  same  mode  of  war- 
fare.    They  still  burn  unoffending  and  defenceless  villages. 

"  Over  there  they  had  a  little  experience  of  Yankee  valor.  The 
fort  was  taken  by  storm;  I  believe  it  was  blown  up,  and  some 
gallant  men  were  buried  in  its  ruins  ;  but  I  confuse  the  stories  of 
these  old  quarrels.  Let  me  tell  you  of  one  of  a  more  recent  date,  and 
of  more  personal  interest." 

I  changed  my  place  and  sat  at  her  feet,  prepared  to  listen.  I 
find  myself  loohing  up  to  this  woman,  just  as  naturally  as  I  would 
look  down  to  some  others.  There  is  a  sphere  of  freedom  surround- 
ing her,  which  permits  every  one  to  take  his  proper  place;  and 
there  seems  also  a  sphere  of  power,  the  action  of  forces,  which  har- 
monize all  around  her,  by  bringing  all  to  their  true  relations.  So  I 
sat  at  her  feet  and  listened. 

''  Nearly  twenty  years  ago,  before  you  were  old  enough  to  care 
much  about  politics,  an  ambitious  lawyer  was  elected  governor  of 
New  York.  I  remember  it  well,  for  my  father  was  an  active  par- 
tizan  on  the  other  side,  and  his  frankly  expressed  opinions  of  the 
man  were  not  in  the  least  complimentary.  I  think  he  has  not 
changed  his  opinion  of  him ;  and  I  am  certain  that  I  have  not. 


40  ESPERANZA. 


"  Buffalo  was  then  a  city  of  less  than  half  its  present  size,  but  its 
leading  men  were  a  set  of  unscrupulous  borderers,  and  at  the  head 
of  the  dominant  party  in  this  district.  They  secured  this  man's 
nomination,  and  he  paid  the  price.  The  price  was  to  aid  them  in 
sending  a  much  better  man  to  State  Prison,  and  keeping  him  there. 
He  was  elected.  It  was  a  triumph,  and  the  victory  was  celebrated 
by  a  grand  illumination.  Buffalo  was  in  a  blaze,  cannon  thundered, 
and  rockets  rose.  But,  as  sometimes  occurs,  the  elements  took 
part  in  the  performance.  All  day  a  gale  from  the  southwest  had 
been  increasing  in  fury.  The  waters  rose  in  the  harbor  and  in  the 
streets.  In  the  midst  of  the  festival,  the  glare  of  the  illumination 
lighted  a  scene  of  terror  and  death.  The  heaped  up  waters  swept 
over  all  this  point  of  land,  where  was  then  a  little  village  of  dwel- 
lings. The  celebration  was  interrupted  by  the  crash  of  these  falling 
houses,  and  the  shrieks  of  crushed  and  drowning  victims.  The 
sailors  of  the  harbor,  the  hardy  steamboat  men,  gave  all  the  aid  they 
could ;  but  when  morning  came,  it  lighted  up  a  pitiful  scene.  The 
wreck  of  houses  and  furniture  was  floating  in  the  harbor ;  a  score 
or  more  of  the  stiff  corpses  of  men,  women  and  little  children  lay  in 
the  watch-house,  under  the  market  yonder;  vessels  were  stranded 
high  up  the  streets,  others,  attempting  to  gain  the  harbor  had  been 
thrown  on  the  beach  below.  Afterward  the  general  government 
built  the  brakewater. 

''I  said  that  this  governor  paid  for  his  nomination.  His  friends, 
here,  had  been  trying  for  two  years  to  send  a  man  to  the  State 
Prison.  He  was  a  contractor,  builder,  financier ;  one  of  those  who 
build  cities.  A  man  of  great  constructive  and  administrative  power; 
upright  in  intention,  I  should  think.  In  a  financial  crisis,  in  his 
efforts  to  continue  his  Avork  of  making  this  the  city  he  foresaw  it 
must  be,  he  made  himself,  or  was  made,  amenable  to  the  laws. 
With  or  without  his  knowledge,  the  persons  who  managed  his 
finances,  multiplied  the  endorsements  of  his  co-adjutors  here — men 
whose  fortunes  he  had  made — by  forgery.  When  this  became 
known,  he  placed  his  property  in  their  hands,  to  pay  his  creditors ; 
and  trusted  to  their  professions  of  sympathy  and  promises  of  aid. 

They  seized  on  the  millions  intrusted  to  them,  and  then  he  refused 


ESPERANZA.  41 


to  leave  the  country,  or  submit  to  this  robbery,  they  threw  him  into 
jail,  kept  him  a  year  in  that  cell,  and  then  failing  to  convict  him 
here,  after  several  trials,  took  him  to  another  county,  where,  with 
their  own  judge  to  try  him,  their  own  jury  to  convict,  their  own 
nominated  governor  to  give  his  personal  presence  and  influence,  they 
secured  his  civil  death,  and  their  safety.  It  was  a  bold  strong  game. 
They  had  money  and  political  influence,  and  were  unscrupulous  in 
the  use  of  both.  An  amiable,  able,  and  I  think  essentially  an 
honest  man,  was  torn  from  his  wife,  and  sent  for  five  years  to  Auburn. 
There  was  great  sympathy  for  him,  and  petitions  were  sent  from 
the  whole  State,  but  he  was  very  safe,  as  long  as  their  own  man 
was  governor.     A  pardon  would  have  endangered  every  thing." 

"  And  was  it  your  sympathy  for  this  victim  of  a  mercenary 
treachery,  that  made  you  visit  that  prison  ?"  1  asked,  for,  though  a 
hard  case,  it  was  only  one  of  thousands  as  bad,  and  I  could  not  see 
in  it  the  element  of  a  personal  interest. 

'  Oh  !  no,"  she  said,  seeming  to  read  my  thoughts  ;  "  this  is  but 
the  introduction.  The  honest  felon,  the  crafty  governor,  and  his 
clique  of  alternate  employers  and  tools,  are  little  to  me.  They  have 
their  reward.  One  of  them  has  been  President;  another  hopes  to 
be.  But  there  was  here,  at  that  time,  a  volunteer  Knight  Errant, 
whom  you  will  know  hereafter ;  and  you  may  as  well  learn  now, 
this  little  passage  in  his  history.     It  will  be  a  good  introduction." 

Ah !  thought  I,  here  is  the  center  of  this  mystery.  When  a 
woman  speaks  of  the  man  she  loves,  there  is  no  mistaking.  She 
speaks  of  him,  as  she  can  speak  of  no  other.  I  wished  to  see  how 
she  would  bear  the  test  of  this  revelation. 

This  is  not  all,  dear  Clara;  I  must  tell  you  all  the  truth.  When 
she  spoke  of  this  man,  with  the  consciousness  that  she  loved  him, 
there  came  a  deep,  dull  pain  into  my  heart.  I  tell  you  the  fact.  I 
do  not  try  to  account  for  it.  I  feel  it  yet ;  but  I  will  tell  you  the 
whole,  and  you  may  understand  it. 

''  Mr.  Vincent,"  she  continued,  pronouncing  this  name  as  if  each 

tone  that  made  it  was  precious  to  her,  "  came  to  Buff'alo,  when  he 

was  twenty-one  years  old.     He  came  here,  it  seemed  by  chance,  for 

he  left  New  York  without  any  plan,  but  to  see  the  world.     He  was 

4 


r 


42  ESPERANZA. 


a  student,  and  at  this  age  a  philosopher,  and  a  man  of  letters.  Soon 
after  he  came  here,  he  became  editor  of  a  daily  paper;  as  such,  he 
made  a  thorough  exposure  of  all  the  iniquity  I  have  narrated,  and, 
of  course,  brought  upon  himself  the  vengeance  of  these  men.  He 
fought  them  step  by  step,  and  so  excited  the  public  that  they  were 
obliged  to  admit  their  prisoner  to  bail,  and  to  take  him  to  a  distance 
to  convict  him. 

"I  don't  see  how  he  went  through  the  contest  that  came.  He 
was  very  young,  for  such  a  position.  But  he  was  an  eloquent 
writer  and  speaker,  and  his  personal  qualities  aided  him.  I  am 
partial,  perhaps,  but  he  was  called  handsome  then;  you  will  see  him 
and  can  judge.  He  walked  these  streets,  I  have  been  told,  as  if 
he  owned  the  city ;  I  know  that  many  loved  him.  Too  free,  or  too 
prudent  to  marry;  too  generous  and  honorable  to  injure  any  one; 
he  rather  avoided  love  than  sought  it.  But  you  will  know  him  and 
I  need  not  describe  him. 

"The  contest  was  fierce  and  unequal.  It  was  right  against  might. 
A  youthful  adventurer  with  his  pen,  against  all  the  wealth,  and 
influence,  and  consequent  respectability  of  this  city.  His  society 
was  tabooed,  until  ladies  who  would  have  him,  were  obliged  to  make 
up  special  parties,  when  he  was  invited.  The  contest  raged  every- 
where; this  city,  where  it  is  now  forgotten,  was  divided  into  two 
parties  of  his  friends  and  his  enemies.  He  had  numbers  and  honesty 
— they  had  wealth  and  position. 

"  He  was  attacked  in  the  streets  by  hired  ruffians,  but  fought 
with  spirit  enough  to  beat  them. 

"  At  another  time,  an  organized  company  of  men  came,  in  the  day 
time,  posted  sentries  at  the  door  of  his  office  up  Main  street,  and 
marched  into  his  editorial  room,  picked  and  prepared  to  inflict  upon 
him  a  personal  chastisement.  He  received  the  delegation  with  a  grave 
courtesy;  inquired  their  business;  and  when  it  had  been  stated  by 
their  spokesman,  and  he  had  respectfully  declined  the  honor  they 
intended  him;  just  as  the  men  deputed  to  seize  him  were  gather- 
ing around,  fifteen  to  one,  he  drew  two  little  brass  pistols  from  his  vest 
pockets,  and  pointing  them  at  the  nearest,  gave  them  such  an  earnest 
assurance  of  receiving  their  contents,  that  the  meeting  adjourned. 


Esperan;:a.  43 

"When  it  was  found  that  he  was  not  to  be  bribed  at  any  price, 
nor  intimidated  by  any  means ;  a  gang  of  desperate  ruffians  was 
hired  to  tar  and  feather  him,  and  destroy  his  press  and  types.  The 
conspiracy  was  deliberately  formed,  money  contributed,  and  the 
ruffians  were  disguised,  partly  intoxicated,  and  paid  to  do  their  work. 
A  large  wagon  and  two  horses  were  provided  to  carry  him  off,  gagged 
and  helpless,  into  the  forest ;  a  rope  to  bind  him  to  a  tree,  and  tar 
and  feathers  to  complete  the  outrage — which  would,  undoubtedly, 
have  ended  in  murder,  had  not  a  providence  watched  over  him. 

"It  was  before  the  day  of  spiritual  manifestations,  but  it  is,  per- 
haps, as  remarkable  as  most  of  these.  "While  this  gang,  concealed 
in  the  shadow  of  a  building,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  where 
my  friend  was  accustomed  to  pass  from  his  office  to  his  boarding 
house,  was  waiting  for  him — he  was  walking  home  alone,  in  the 
moon-light,  without  a  thought  of  danger.  He  was  on  the  very  block, 
round  the  corner  of  which  the  black&ned  men  awaited  him,  with  gag 
and  ropes,  and  their  wagon  was  in  the  next  street. 

"Just  then  he  met  an  acquaintance,  a  clerk  in  one  of  the  banks, 
who  passed,  then  turned  back,  stopped  him,  and  asked  him  to  turn 
and  walk  back.  As  they  went,  he  said.:  'You  must  go  home  with 
me  to-night,  I  have  something  to  say  to  you.  I  don't  know  how 
it  is,  but  something  is  wrong.  I  was  at  a  party  on  the  street 
below ;  it  was  a  pleasant  party,  I  was  dancing,  and  engaged  to  dance 
again.  I  never  left  such  a  party  before,  but  to-night  I  could  not 
stay.  Every  one  wondered,  and  pressed  me  to  stay  longer,  at  least 
to  supper,  but  I  could  not.  There  was  no  reason,  only  I  was  com- 
pelled to  come.  When  I  passed  the  building  below,  I  saw  some  men 
hiding  in  its  shadow ;  I  remembered  that  you  boarded  in  the  street, 
and  in  a  moment  I  met  you.' 

"  Mr.  Vincent  would  have  gone  back  to  investigate  this  mystery, 
but  his  friend  pursuaded  him  to  go  to  the  hotel  where  he  boarded. 
The  next  morning  it  was  found  that  the  gang,  though  foiled  in  part, 
had  completely  demolished  the  printing  office." 

"But  was  nothing  done?"  I  asked. 

"  No ;  the  conspirators  were  not  known  until  long  afterward. 
They  had  influence  enough  to  hush  up  investigation.     The  mayor 


44  ESPERANZA. 

of    the  city,   it  was  afterward    proven,    was    at    the    head   ')i   the 
conspiracy. 

"Finally,  a  grand  jury,  mostly  from  the  country,  was  found  to 
indict  Mr.  Vincent  for  libel.  He  had  called  one  of  those  lawyers 
the  tool  of  his  employers.  For  this,  he  was  tried;  a  corrupt,  and 
drunken  judge,  who  owed  them  money,  tried  the  cause,  and  an 
ignorant  and  weak-minded  jury  was  persuaded  to  bring  in  a  verdict 
of  guilty.  He  refused  to  leave,  even  at  the  request  of  his  own 
bail  and  counsel,  and  was  imprisoned  four  months  in  the  cell  to  which 
we  made  our  pilgrimage." 

"But  what  said  his  friends,  and  the  public?"  I  enquired;  "was 
no  effort  made  in  his  behalf?" 

"There  was  no  lack  of  sympathy  and  indignation.  A  mob  sur- 
rounded the  jail  and  would  have  torn  it  down.  The  Sheriff  asked 
him  to  speak  to  the  crowd,  and  he  sent  them  peacefully  away. 
Still  he  was  treated  with  cruelty.  Presents  were  stopped  at  the 
door,  and  visitors  often  could  not  gain  admittance.  But  he  had 
books,  and  his  violin,  and  his  writing  materials  were  smuggled  in, 
and  his  manuscripts  out,  in  spite  of  the  jailor.  It  is  quite  a  ro- 
mance. The  people  paid  his  fine  by  a  complimentary  benefit  at  the 
theater  we  passed.  They  offered  him  an  ovation;  but  he  declined 
it.  They  would  have  elected  him  to  any  office  in  the  popular  gift, 
but  he  was  not  ambitious.  He  had  done  his  work,  and  had  another 
destiny.  The  wrong  was  exposed,  and  the  power  broken  ;  he  had 
the  trial  and  the  discipline  of  the  imprisonment  in  that  foul  dun- 
geon; and  the  world  has  had  the  benefit  of  that  experience.  Some 
day,  when  I  shall  sit  on  one  side  of  him,  and  you  the  other,  you 
will  see  what  it  has  done  for  him.  To  labor  well  for  humanity, 
one  must  see  all  the  phases  of  its  development." 

We  walked  back  along  the  pier. 

"Here,"  she  said,  "he  used  to  ride  on  the  beach,  his  horse's  feet 
washed  by  the  turf.  One  day  he  rode  along  the  pier,  and  round  the 
light-house.  The  waves  were  dashing  over  the  pier;  the  way,  you 
see,  is  very  narrow,  but  a  horse  feels  the  will  of  his  rider.  One 
strong  will  may  govern  many." 

"Has  this  man  such  power  as  to  control  those  around  him?"  I 


ESPERANZA.  -J  5 

asked;  wishing  to  know  how  much  my  compauioii  might  be  under 
such  an  iuflueuce. 

''I  think  he  has  such  power,"  she  said,  ''  but  I  do  not  see  that  he 
makes  often  voluntary  use  of  it.  He  wishes  all  men  and  women  to 
be  free,  and  to  act  for  themselves.  In  those  days,  he  experimented 
sometimes.  He  had  a  magnetism  that  could  excite  or  paralizc.  He 
could  throw  an  impressible  person  into  a  two-day's  trance.  He 
cured  the  blind,  and  many  diseases.  I  think  he  tested  the  power 
to  make  one  love  him  ;  but  that  he  has  ever  since  refrained  from 
using  it.     I  can  not  find  that  he  ever  used  it  harmfully. 

''This  city,  and  the  hills  and  waters  here,  are  full  of  associations 
with  his  adventures.  When  the  frontier  war  broke  out,  his  friends 
were  engaged  in  it ;  but  he  went  from  camp  to  camp,  as  if  it  were 
only  a  study.  When  a  man  has  a  distinctive  work  to  do,  a  real 
destiny  to  accomplish ;  he  has  years  of  practice — he  makes  many 
studies  and  sketches.  The  world  calls  his  efforts  failures,  but  they 
insure  success.  To  succeed  in  any  thing  but  the  real  life  work, 
would  be  a  failure  indeed.  To  fail  in  lesser  enterprises,  or  have 
them  prove  fruitless,  is  often  the  condition  of  the  final  success.  Mr. 
Vincent  could  have  been  Mayor  of  Buffalo,  Member  of  Congress 
or  have  risen  to  any  political  station  he  might  have  desired ;  but  at 
every  turn  he  put  aside  such  ambitions,  and  kept  to  his  far  higher 
mission.  Of  that  you  will  soon  know,  and  be  able  to  form  your 
own  opinioo." 

We  passed  the  rest  of  the  day  pleasantly,  with  conversation  and 
music.  Two  or  three  gentlemen  called,  and  conversed  with  Miss 
Elmore  earnestly;  but  I  was  not  invited  to  join  them.  She  seems 
to  be  consulted,  looked  up  to,  and  reverenced;  but  there  is  a  mystery 
I  can  not  fathom.  Were  we  in  Europe,  I  should  think  she  was  a 
secret  agent  of  a  revolutionary  society.  Here,  her  mission  evidently 
has  nothing  to  do  with  politics ;  yet  it  is  certain  that  she  can  have 
no  narrow  or  selfish  object. 

We  came  to  the  boat  in  the  evening  and  stood  upon  the  deck  until 
we  came  round  the  light-house.  She  took  a  long  look  at  the  city, 
a  look  full  of  loving  remembrances. 

As  she  stood  by  my  side,  in  the  soft  twilight,  I  said — 


46  ESPERANZA. 


''  You  have  been  very  good  to  me.  I  thank  you  for  your  con- 
fidence.    You  loved  Mr.  Vincent  much." 

"  Loved !"  she  said,  with  a  glow  of  feeling ;  "  loved  ?  I  love  him 
noio,  and  ever  shall." 

I  stood  silent.  The  dull  pain  sank  on  ray  heart.  I  did  not  say 
one  word,  Clara ;  but  she  must  have  felt  me. 

"  Mj  dear  friend,"  she  said,  taking  my  hand,  and  holding  it 
between  both  of  hers ;  "  I  love  this  man  with  more  devotion  than 
any  other.  But  it  does  not  hurt  me  that  others  love  him  as  much 
or  more  than  I  do.  I  have  my  own  place  in  his  heart  and  life ;  aa 
he  has  in  mine." 

"  It  is  nothing  to  me,"  I  said,  "  whom  he  loves,  or  you."  I 
was  angry  at  myself,  and  therefore  rude  to  her. 

"My  brother!"  she  said,  softly;  "you  must  not  be  unjust  to 
yourself  or  others.  All  pure  and  true  loves  come  from  the  Heavens 
to  bless  us.  They  come  singly  or  in  groups  and  clusters  of  loves, 
and  all  in  harmony,  and  all  to  bless.  Why  should  we  shut  our 
hearts  against  them  ?     /  shall  not.     Good  night." 

She  glided  quickly  to  her  state-room.  I  walked  up  and  down 
the  deck  a  few  moments,  let  the  night  breeze  cool  my  fever,  and 
came  here  to  write  to  you. 

My  heart  throbs  like  the  engine  of  this  vessel  which  bears  me 
from  you.  I  have  been  frank  to  you,  dear  Clara,  but  I  can  not 
explain,  for  I  do  not  understand.  Pardon  mo,  and  pity  me,  if  J 
need  it.  I  wish  to  be,  and  to  do,  right.  I  know  that  I  love  you ; 
for  in  the  thought  and  hope  of  you,  I  find  rest. 

Blessing  of  my  life,  good  night ! 


iV. 


CINCINNATI. 


My  blessed  Clara  I — When  I  recorded  my  name  on  the  regis- 
ter of  the  Burnet  House,  this  evening,  your  precious  letter  was 
given  me.  I  was  shown  to  a  charming  room,  with  a  large  bath-room 
attached.  The  hotel  is  grand,  spacious,  and  luxurious  beyond  my 
expectations.  I  took  a  bath  and  then  read  your  letter.  Itisunro- 
mantic,  I  know,  but  after  a  long  day  of  dusty  travel,  I  did  not  feel 
that  I  had  a  right  even  to  come  into  the  presence  of  your  written 
words,  until  I  was  in  a  condition  to  enjoy  the  ineffable  sweetness 
and  purity  that  breathes  in  every  line  you  have  written.  The  letter 
and  picture  will  lie  together  on  my  heart  to-night,  and  I  shall  sleep 
happily.     Thanks  and  blessings  for  all  the  love  you  send  me. 

When  I  entered  the  name  of  Miss  Elmore,  after  my  own,  I  ob- 
served the  expression  of  the  bland  countenance  of  Mr.  Coleman, 
whom  I  knew  at  once  by  his  resemblance  to  his  brother,  in  New 
York;  I  was  glad  to  see  an  added  gleam  of  sunlight;  and,  I  doubt 
not,  I  was  provided  with  a  better  room,  and  treated  with  more  defer- 
ence, than  if  I  had  been  a  solitary  traveler;  for  a  man  is  judged,  if 
not  always  known,  by  the  company  he  keeps. 

After  landing  from  the  steamboat,  at  an  early  hour  this  morning, 

we  have  traversed  the  great  State  of  Ohio,  from  its  northern  central 

meridian,  to  its  south-western  extremity.     The  sun  rose  to  us  over 

the  blue  waves  of  Lake  Erie;  its  setting  beams  were  reflected  from 

the   beautiful  river   Ohio.     It  was  my  first  salutation  a  la  helle 

riviere.     This  is  called  the  Queen  City,  you  know.     Her  majesty  is 

a  little  sooty,  and  wears  a  crown  of  smoke.     I  shall  pay  my  respects 

to  her  to-morrow.     It  is  Sunday  and  we  remain  here  until  Monday 

But  now  I  must  give  you  an  account  of  the  day. 

47 


43  ESPERANZA. 

After  writing  my  long  letter  of  last  nighty  I  slept  soundly,  rocked 
by  gentle  billows,  and  sootiied  by  the  regular  working  of  the  ma- 
chinery, and  did  not  wake  until  it  stopped  at  the  dock  at  Cleveland. 
When  I  came  into  the  saloon,  I  found  Miss  Elmore,  bright,  rosy, 
and  smiling,  waiting  to  walk  the  short  distance  to  the  railroad 
depot. 

"You  will  not  see  much  of  this  pretty  place,"  she  said,  "for  v.e 
have  much  to  do  at  Cincinnati,  and  I  have  promised  to  spend  out 
Sunday  there." 

"  We,"  and  "  our."  Well,  Clara,  they  are  terms  that  may  include 
many.  All  of  life  is  before  us;  all  is  new  in  the  future;  all  our 
relations  are  to  be  defined.  I  feel  that  we  must  be  brave,  and  true,  and 
shrink  from  nothing  that  is  right ;  as  well  as  be  careful  to  do  nothing 
wrong. 

And  so  "  we"  took  our  places  in  the  cars,  and  were  soon  whirling 
across  this  great,  fertile,  and  well  peopled  State.  You  will  find  our 
route  on  the  map.  We  took  the  line  by  Columbus,  the  State 
Capital,  and  the  Little  Miami  Railroad.  I  shall  not  describe  the 
cities  and  villages  through  which  we  passed,  because  I  saw  but  little 
of  them,  and  because  it  is  better  done  in  the  Guide  Books,  and 
Gazetteers. 

But  the  face  of  the  country,  alternately  rolling  and  broken,  but 
with  no  mountains  in  sight,  and  the  evidences  of  abounding  fertility 
attracted  my  attention.  I  called  the  State  well  peopled,  and  so  it 
seems  to  be  on  the  census  list,  but  when  you  look  over  it,  you  can 
see  that  it  would  support  twenty  times  its  present  population. 

As  we  went  south,  the  country  grows  richer,  the  forest  trees  of  a 
more  gigantic  growth,  and  the  corn-fields  moi'e  magnificent.  Oh ! 
these  corn-fields  of  the  West;  none  of  your  little  patches  of  a  few 
rods  square;  but  we  passed  through  miles  and  miles  of  bright  wav- 
ing maize,  and  great  fields  of  wheat  of  golden  richness,  ripening  for 
the  harvest.  The  wealth  of  this  fertility  is  wonderful.  A  Quaker 
sat  behind  us,  as  we  passed  through  the  great  Miami  valley.  Ho 
took  a  quiet  pride  in  my  exclamations,  at  these  glories  of  the  wealth 
of  nature,  and  volunteered  some  information  in  regard  to  it. 

"Do  you  livein  this  region?"  I  asked  him. 


ESPERANZA.  49 


"Yes,"  he  said,  "I  have  a  little  farm  of  three  hundred  acres, 
down  here  by  Loveland." 

There's  a  name  for  you,  Clara ;  but  they  have  a  right  to  love  such 
land. 

"What  is  this  land  worth  an  acre?" 

"Well,  about  fifty  dollars,  on  an  average." 

"Is  it  under  high  culture?" 

"I  don't  know  as  I  understand  what  thee  calls  high  culture.  We 
get  about  as  much  off  as  we  cleverly  can." 

"Oh !  I  meant  rotation  of  crops,  and  manuring,  and  all  that  sort 
of  thing,"  said  I;  for  you  know,  Clara,  I  take  a  great  interest  in 
agriculture,  and  read  the  reports  of  the  meetings  of  the  Farmer's 
Club,  with  much  assiduity. 

"  I  suppose  I  ought  to  manure  my  land  some,"  said  the  bland 
Quaker,  "  but  I  never  have;  I  never  could  find  time.  As  to  rota- 
tion, I  have  grown  corn  on  one  bottom  every  season  for  fifty-two 
years,  and  it  still  grows  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet  high,  and  I  have 
to  reach  up  to  get  at  the  ears.  I  am  afraid  that  if  I  went  to  putting 
on  goo-an-no,  I  should  have  to  use  a  ladder." 

The  group  of  farmer-looking  men  sitting  around  confirmed  the 
old  man's  testimony.  One  had  a  corn-stalk  twenty-one  feet  high. 
Another  had  climbed  into  a  weed  strong  enough  to  bear  his  weight. 
Others  had  raised  crops  of  wheat,  corn,  and  Irish  and  sweet  pota- 
toes, which  I  can  not  pretend  to  remember. 

"No  wonder  that  people  go  West,"  I  said  to  Miss  Elmore,  who 
had  been  listening  to  this  conversation  with  a  quiet  interest,  which 
took  in  and  comprehended  every  thing. 

"And  they  continue  to  go  West,"  she  said.  "They  come  from 
New  England  to  Ohio  and  Michigan.  They  go  from  these  new 
States,  with  their  forests  unfelled,  and  their  lands  uncultivated, 
to  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Minnesota,  and  Kansas,  and  from  beyond  the 
Mississippi  to  California  and  Oregon." 

"And  why?" 

"The  reason  commonly  given,  is  that  the  lands  are  cheaper. 
Great  tracts  of  land  in  these  settled  States  have  been  bought  as  invest* 
menta,  or  for  speculation.     Prices  are  high ;  but  they  are  ruled  by 


50  ESPERANZA. 

markets  and  other  conditions.  But  this  is  not  all.  Emigration  is  the 
protest  against  the  institutions,  customs,  and  conditions  of  civiliza- 
tion. It  is  the  blind  search  after  a  better  social  state;  it  is  the 
universal  pursuit  of  happiness,  the  right  of  which  is  bravely  asserted 
in  the  Declaration  of  Independence." 

"Is  this  pursuit  ever  successful  if" 

"You  will  not  wish  me  to  say  no,  because  you  are  one  of  the 
seekers.  But  how  can  it  be,  when  men  carry  about  with  them  the 
conditions  of  their  discontent?  They  might  as  well  try  to  escape 
from  their  dyspepsias.  A  man  moves  with  his  family,  his  bonds, 
his  habits,  his  diseases,  his  ignorance,  and  selfishness,  and  bigotries. 
Ah!  if  he  could  leave  all  these  behind,  there  might  be  hope  for 
him.  Of  what  account  is  a  little  more  or  less  labor,  a  few  bushels, 
more  or  less  of  produce?  These  form  but  a  small  part  of  the  ele- 
ments of  happiness.  Wherever  he  goes,  he  sees  the  same  sun,  and 
sky,  and  stars,  lives  on  the  same  earth,  and  mingles  with  the  same 
humanity.  The  same  restless  fever  of  unsatisfied  desire  burns  on. 
They  change  the  place,  but  keep  the  pain." 

"What  would  you  have?  What  is  the  remedy?  Are  men  to  be 
content?" 

"By  no  means!  Content  in  bad  conditions?  Content  with  igno- 
rance, poverty,  disease,  and  all  forms  of  slaveries,  within  and 
without?  0  no!  To  be  content  with  evil  is  the  condition  of  de- 
spair. Discontent  is  the  first  sign  of  hope.  Emigration,  change 
of  place,  is  an  eflFort,  which  will  lead  to  others.  The  more  discon- 
tent with  the  present,  the  nearer  the  hope  of  the  future." 

"But  what  are  these  conditions  of  happiness,  for  which  we  are 
all  blindly  seeking?" 

She  smiled  at  the  question,  as  if  it  was  ridiculous  not  to  know, 
or  absurd  to  ask. 

"You  must  excuse  my  ignorance,"  I  said;  "I  have  neither  read 
nor  thought  much  of  all  this,  and  I  need  to  be  instructed." 

"I  hesitated  to  answer,"  she  replied,  with  a  sweetness  that  was 
the  best  possible  answer  to  my  last  remark,  "because  it  was  a  ques- 
tion which  might  require  three  words  or  three  volumes.  Reading 
might  not  have  made  you  wiser;  and  few  think  in  the  right  direction. 


ESPERANZA.  M 

"Look  at  it.  For  two  thousand  years,  religion  has  been  preached 
as  the  panacea  of  social  evils ;  and  when  the  Church  has  embosomed 
as  much  discord  and  misery  as  can  be  found  out  of  her  pale,  then 
we  are  told  that  we  are  not  to  look  for  happiness  in  this  life,  but 
only  content.  As  if  the  good  G-od  had  decreed  all  miserable  genera^ 
tions  here,  and  eternal  torments  hereafter ! 

"  Social  happiness  has  been  sought  in  political  liberty,  and  its 
result,  in  the  present  forms  yet  achieved,  has  been  only  to  awaken 
men  to  a  keener  sense  of  unhappy  conditions. 

"  A  few  seek  happiness  in  honors  or  wealth.  Honors  and  wealth 
are  beautiful  and  good ;  but  not  a  social  state  in  which  they  are  the 
result  of  intrigue  and  injustice. 

"  Property  is  plunder ;  position  is  an  imposition ;  and  power  is 
usurpation.  The  world  is  a  society  of  Ishmaels  ;  every  man  has 
one  hand  upon  his  neighbor's  throat  and  the  other  in  his  pocket. 
All  are  robbers  and  all  are  robbed,  but  the  strongest  and  most 
cunning  get  most  of  the  spoil.  All  are  oppressors  and  all  are 
oppressed ;  but  the  weakest,  the  ignorant,  the  women,  and  the 
negroes  somewhat  the  worst.  The  picture  is  strongly  drawn;  but 
if  you  consider  it,  you  will  find  it  true." 

She  turned  to  the  window,  and  gave  me  the  next  hour  to  consider; 
and  I  did,  honestly  and  faithfully.  Clara,  it  is  all  too  true.  How 
can  God  answer  for  such  a  world  ? 

She  must  have  known  my  thoughts ;  for  when  she  turned  to  me 
again,  she  said — 

"  The  Eternal  Justice  will  be  satisfied,  and  the  Infinite  Love  will 
be  made  manifest,  in  the  law  of  growth.  If  this  were  the  begin- 
ning or  the  end,  we  might  doubt  and  despair.  But  much  allow- 
ance must  be  made  to  an  infantile  race.  When  humanity  sliall 
have  arrived  at  the  stage  of  manhood,  we  may  expect  somethino- 
better." 

This  was  a  little  vague  to  me.  I  wished  to  know  what  were 
those  social  conditions,  which  would  make  men  happy,  and  therefore 
content. 

''The  first  condition,"  said  she,  ''I  have  told  you,  is  freedom. 
All  seek  it.     The  fugitive  slave  runs  away  to  Canada  in  search  of 


52  EsPERANZA. 

it,  but  it  is  not  there.  He  changes  the  form  of  slavery  and  not  the 
fact.  The  fugitive  wife  runs  away  from  her  husband — or  vice  vena 
— but  society  holds  her  in  a  severer,  though  perhaps  a  less  repulsive 
bondage." 

"But  is  this  really  so?     Are  men  and  women  so  enslaved?" 

She  looked  incredulously  at  me,  as  if  distrusting  my  seriousness 
in  asking  the  question;  but  seeing  that  I  was  truly  in  dead,  stupid 
earnest,  she  said: 

"Are  you  free  to  go  and  speak  to  that  lady  yonder,  though  you 
knew  that  she  desired  it  as  well  as  you?  Is  not  every  woman 
guarded  by  her  husband,  or  father,  or  brother,  or  by  'what  will 
people  say,'  against  all  freedom,  as  much  here  as  in  Turkey  ? 

"What  are  the  natural  rights  of  woman?  Are  they  not  personal 
freedom,  genial  companionship,  the  free  exercise  of  her  intellect 
and  talents,  love,  maternity  ?  Does  society  allow  her  these 
rights?" 

I  have  never  thought  much  of  this,  Clara  dear.  I  have  heard 
about  the  woman's  rights  women,  and  read  their  droll  proceedings 
in  the  papers.  I  went  to  hear  Mrs.  Rose,  and  Lucy  Stone  once. 
They  want  to  be  lawyers,  and  doctors,  and  preachers,  and  vote,  and 
run  for  office.  But  this  idea  of  women  being  free,  in  any  such 
sense  of  freedom  as  Miss  Elmore  speaks  of,  I  had  never  thought  about. 
And  yet  I  see  that  she  has  this  freedom,  and  that  on  it  depends 
much  of  her  wonderful  fascination.  Beautiful  as  she  is,  good,  and 
true,  and  noble,  as  I  see  and  feel  her  to  be,  I  can  not  conceive  of 
her  as  the  wife  of  any  one.  She  seems  a  heroine,  who  might 
command  an  armyj  I  think  she  would  preside  in  a  Senate  with 
admirable  dignity ;  I  doubt  not  that  she  is  loving  and  faithful  to 
the  deepest  life  of  love;  but  still,  Clara,  I  can  not  but  see  how  far 
removed  she  is  from  all  the  women  I  have  ever  seen.  She  enjoys 
my  astonishment  very  much. 

Here,  then,  we  are,  in  the  Queen  City  of  the  West.  In  the 
morning  we  are  to  take  a  little  ride,  and  look  at  the  city  from  one 
of  the  surrounding  hills.  I  shall  also  try  to  get  a  peep  at  the  river 
and  steamboats.  Good  night,  darling;  I  will  finish  my  letter  to- 
morrow. 


ESPERANZA.  63 


Sunday  Morning. — ''  And  this  is  the  great  city  of  the  West,"  I 
said,  as  we  stood  on  the  brow  of  a  hill  to  which  we  had  ascended  up 
zig-zag  roads,  in  a  carriage  from  the  Burnet  House,  an  hour  after 
sunrise.  The  sky  was  clearer  than  I  expected,  for  the  chimneys  of 
a  thousand  manufactories  and  furnaces  had  ceased  to  belch  out  their 
clouds  of  bituminous  coal  smoke.  I  could  see  all  the  compact,  well 
built  city;  the  river  skirting  in  a  semi-circle  beyond,  and  then  pass- 
ing off  to  the  south-west;  the  Kentucky  suburbs  of  Covington  and 
Newport,  and  the  circle  of  hills  that  surround  the  city.  Miss  El- 
more surveyed  it  all  in  silence,  and  then,  remembering  her  office  of 
guide,  said  to  me  : 

"  This  is  Cincinnati,  an  embodiment  of  thrift  and  piety,  a  city  of 
manufactories,  ware-houses,  steamboats,  and  churches.  There  is 
not  a  public  square,  park,  or  parade  ground,  in  the  city.  The 
ground  is  all  built  over.  There  is  a  noble  Cathedral  in  the  Grecian 
style,  and  you  see  the  cross  glittering  on  many  a  spire.  A  third  of 
the  city  is  German,  and  two-thirds  of  the  Germans  are  Catholics; 
nearly  all  the  Irish,  of  course.  That  tall  misshapen  spire  belongs 
to  a  Presbyterian  Meeting  House.  I^  is  very  characteristic,  dark, 
ugly,  pretentious.     The  yellow  excrescence  on  the  top  is  a  fist." 

"A  fist?" 

"  Yes,  a  doubled  hand,  with  the  index  finger  pointing  upward.  It 
is  generally  mistaken  by  strangers  for  the  representation  of  a  yellow 
washed  ham,  a  symbol  of  the  chief  trade  of  the  city.  The  build- 
ing is  surrounded  and  shut  in  by  stores.  The  Catholics  keep  com- 
merce at  a  more  respectful  distance." 

"But,  excuse  the  question,  Miss  Elmore,  this  pork  trade  you 
spoke  of?" 

"It  is  very  quiet  now.  Those  large  buildings  by  the  canal  yon- 
der are  the  pork-houses.  In  the  winter  three  hundred  thousand 
hogs  are  driven  or  brought  on  the  cars  and  steamboats,  killed  in  the 
suburbs,  drawn  into  the  city,  and  packed  in  those  ware-houses. 
Then  Cincinnati  deserves  its  name  of  Porkopolis,  and  its  oflPense  is 
rank,  and  smells  to  heaven.  A  very  unpleasant  smell  it  is.  But 
it  is  a  part  of  civilization,  and  thoroughly  characteristic." 

"Why  do  you  say  characteristic?" 


54  ESPKRANZA. 


"Because  the  animal,  in  his  filth,  gluttony,  diseases,  and  destiny, 
is  a  representative  of  the  impure,  sensual,  selfish,  and  miserable 
lives  of  most  of  those  who  fatten,  buy,  sell,  and  eat  him.  O  Mosea 
and  Mahommed !  ye  lived  in  ages  of  darkness,  but  ye  knew  better 
than  to  eat  pork.     Let  us  change  the  subject." 

"Excuse  me;  are  the  people  of  Cincinnati  more  hoggish  than 
civilizers  in  general?" 

"Oh!  by  no  means  !  In  many  respects  they  are  a  very  amiable 
people.  I  know  them  well.  They  mingle  southern  warmth  with 
northern  prudence  ;  and  eastern  thrift  is  softened  by  the  rough, 
large-hearted,  whole-souledness  of  the  West.  I  should  like  the 
Germans  but  for  their  tobacco,  in  which  they  are  steeped." 

"And  the  lager  bier?" 

"Oh  !  that  is  not  a  very  bad  concoction ;  far  better  than  whiskey. 
But  these  people  are  so  genial,  familiar,  and  good-hearted.  There 
is  a  sphere  of  friendliness,  you  find  in  no  eastern  city;  an  outflow- 
ing humanity  and  benevolence  which  reconciles  you  to  every  thing. 
Boston  has  more  intellectual  culture  and  refinement,  New  York 
more  dash  and  splendor,  New  Orleans  more  fascination,  but  for 
genuine,  unaffected,  honest  goodness,  commend  me  to  Cincin 
nati." 

There,  my  Clara,  as  an  impartial  traveler,  I  send  you  the  result  of 
my  second-hand  observations;  and  the  little  experience  I  have  had 
confirms  their  truth.  Every  one  you  meet  looks  as  if  he  would 
be  really  glad  to  render  you  some  service;  and  would  take  it  as  a 
favor  if  you  would  stop  and  talk  with  him. 

We  drove  around  what  is  called  Mount  Auburn;  saw  some  very 
beautiful  villas  and  gardens ;  and  on  the  hill  sides,  some  of  the 
vineyards,  for  which  the  city  is  famed.  The  wine  made  from  the 
Catawba  tastes  a  little  harsh  at  first.  I  thought  it  not  so  good  as  the 
ordinary  Rhine  wines,  but  after  a  little  you  get  to  like  the  flavor; 
and  every  patriotic  Ciuoinnatian  is  ready  to  swear  that  the  whole 
world  does  not  produce  such  wine. 

When  we  returned  into  the  city,  the  driver,  an  Irishman,  took 
good  care  that  we  should  see  what  he  thought  its  most  attractive 
portions.     Going  down  Vine  street,  Miss  Elmore  pointed  out  the 


ESPERANZA.  56 

German  Theater,  and  three  other  public  buildings,  which  are 
spacious,  and  convenient  enough,  but  not  very  ornamental. 

"Yonder/"'  she  said,  "is  the  Turners'  Hall,  where  the  young  men, 
by  gymnastic  exercises,  combat  the  ill  effects  of  coarse  eating,  beer, 
and  tobacco.  There  is  the  Liberty  Hall,  owned  by  a  society  of 
fifteen  hundred  infidels,  who  glory  in  their  negations.  The  Canal 
is  a  sort  of  boundarj'  between  the  German  and  native  populations, 
and  this  northern  quarter  is  called  '  over  the  llhine.'  Yonder  are 
the  People's  Theatre,  and  Mechanics'  Institute — curious  specimens 
of  Italian  and  Gothic  architecture — but  if  you  look  about  among 
the  better  class  of  private  residences  you  will  find  many  evidences 
of  graceful  art."  I  forgot  to  say  that  our  Jehu,  whose  Christian 
name  was  Patrick,  went  out  of  his  way  to  drive  past  the  Cathedral, 
and  though  the  same  space  and  cost  might  have  been  more  imposing 
in  Gothic,  it  is  a  credit  to  the  Church  and  an  ornament  to  the  city. 
I  don't  know  how  it  may  be,  in  fact,  but  it  seems  as  large  as  both 
Grace  and  Trinity. 

We  had  good  appetites  and  a  charming  breakfast.  When  we  sat 
at  the  table  and  looked  over  the  bill,  my  companion,  who  likes 
to  play  guardian  and  guide,  called  the  waiter,  gave  him  a  small 
paper  package,  and  some  very  careful,  but  inaudible  instructions. 
Can  you  conceive  of  a  woman,  whose  whole  appearance  and  manner, 
though  full  of  gentleness  and  almost  infantile  loveliness,  is  yet  so 
full  of  a  sweet  charm  of  power,  that  every  one  must  obey  her,  with 
a  most  cheerful  obedience  ?  I  see  it,  even  in  the  waiters  at  the 
hotels ;  I  feel  it  in  myself,  so  that  I  am  compelled  to  analyze  this 
feeling.  It  grasps  me  like  a  fate;  but  it  seems  also  like  a  most 
benevolent  and  beautiful  destiny.  And,  Clara  mine,  I  know  and 
feel,  through  all  my  being,  that  I  love  you,  not  less,  but  more,  for 
this  influence. 

The  waiter  came  with  some  beautiful  corn-bread,  French  rolls, 
and  two  cups  of  the  most  delicious  chocolate  I  ever  tasted. 

"  It  is  a  little  pet  weakness  of  mine,"  she  said,  when  I  looked 
round  with  admiration  at  the  rare  beverage.  "It  comes  to  me  from 
a  dear  friend  in  Havana.  I  have  no  doubt  it  is  the  best  in  the 
world." 


50  ESPKRAKZA. 

"  But  the  flavor." 

"  There  is  a  very  slight  addition  of  orange  flowers  and  vanilla." 

"But  is  not  this  indulgence  against  your  principles  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Pray,  sir,  do  you  happen  to  know  what  my  principles  are?" 

I  thought  I  knew,  but  I  found  myself  at  fault.  "I  supposed," 
I  said,  "  you  objected  to  the  use  of  all  stimulants." 

"  Oh  !  how  mistaken  the  young  gentleman  is.  Have  I  not  been 
indulging  in  your  exhilerating  society  for  four  days  past  ?" 

"  But  I  mean  pernicious  stimulants." 

"  I  certainly  do  not  drink  whisky.  You  have  not  observed  me 
smoking.  Cofi'ee  is  harsh  and  acrid ;  there  are  black  teas  of  delicate 
flavor  and  not  very  harmful,  as  an  occasional  luxury.  You  saw  me 
drink  wine.  I  think  I  take  a  pint  a  year.  Each  stimulant,  if  pure, 
has  a  specific  action ;  it  goes  to  a  particular  organ  or  group  of 
organs.  Chocolate,  such  as  this,  with  the  added  flavors,  excites 
gently,  but  very  perceptibly  the  faculties  of  beauty,  love,  and 
music." 

"  Then  you  will  sing,"  I  said,  hoping  for  more  of  the  happiness 
I  had  tasted  at  Niagara. 

"  Not  this  morning.  I  have  visitors  and  business  after  breakfast. 
You  will  write  or  walk.     We  will  meet  at  dinner." 

She  went  to  her  room,  and  I  have  written  this  continuation  of  my 
letter.  This  business  and  these  visitors  ?  Well,  they  are  none  of 
mine;  so  I  will  go  and  see  the  steamboats. 

Good  by  for  a  little. 

Night.  —  Blessings  on  Phonography  !  How  should  I  ever  be 
able  to  write  you  all  I  wish,  without  its  time-annihilating  aid  ?  I 
was  never  so  thankful  for  having  learned  it  with  you  as  to-night. 
You  will  see  why.  But  I  will  go  on  all  orderly  with  my  narrative. 
What  a  thing  it  is  to  travel  ! 

I  took  my  walk  down  to  the  river.  The  beautiful  Ohio,  just 
here,  is  not  the  most  romantic  looking  stream  that  meanders  over 
the  planet.  Did  you  ever  think  how  these  long  rivers  run  over  its 
circumference,  and  what  a  droll  figure  they  cut,  when  contemplated 
horizontically,  and  philosophically  ?  The  color  is  a  bluish  brown, 
like  weak  cofi"ee  and  skim-milk.     By  the  way,  I  found  it  the  same 


ESPERANZA. 


in  my  bath-tub  this  morning.     They  filter  it  for  the  table,  and  it 
compares  well  with  the  Croton. 

There  is  no  mistake  about  the  chocolate  ;  it  is  musical.  I  found 
myself  singing,  and  even  whistling ;  but  I  had  a  rival  in  the  latter 
accomplishment,  in  a  steamboat,  which  came  down  the  river  with 
the  water  foaming  at  her  bows,  and  her  tall  pipes  vomiting  black- 
ness. She  came  round  handsomely,  so  as  to  make  her  landing  with 
her  head  up  stream,  in  the  orthodox  fashion,  in  the  meantime  blow- 
ing a  signal  that  might,  I  think,  be  heard  to  Lake  Erie.  It  is  like 
the  scream  of  a  locomotive,  but  compares  with  it  as  the  ophicleide 
does  with  the  piccola;  or  a  cannon  to  a  pop  gun;  or  better,  as  the 
steamboat  to  the  locomotive. 

If  you  shared  my  passion  for  steamboats,  I  think  I  would  describe 
these  that  lie,  in  a  long  line,  side  by  side,  each  with  its  nose  resting 
on  the  shelving  bank  of  the  river.  There  is  nothing  in  or  around 
New  York  at  all  like  them.  The  steamboats  of  the  western  waters 
are  mi  <jcneris.  The  lake  boats  are  large  and  lofty.  They  partake 
of  the  characteristics  of  the  Hudson  river  boats,  the  ocean  steamers, 
and  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  boats.  But  these  :  they  are  flat 
bottomed,  so  as  to  draw  as  little  water  as  possible,  and  glide  easily 
over  the  bars.  Their  bows,  instead  of  being  sharp,  like  ours,  cutting 
the  water  like  a  knife,  are  flat  and  rounded  like  a  duck's  bill. 
There  are  no  wharves,  as  the  river  rises  and  falls,  at  its  own  good 
pleasure,  twenty  or  thirty  feet ;  and  the  boats  haul  up,  or  spar  off 
from  the  shore  as  it  rises  and  falls.  Their  guards  are  close  to  the 
water.  All  the  smaller  boats  have  one  broad  wheel  at  the  stern, 
instead  of  two  at  the  sides.  They  have  two  smoke  pipes,  not  near 
the  center,  but  close  to  the  bows,  like  two  great  ears  or  horns ;  and 
a  row  of  long,  high-pressure  boilers  under  them.  The  hold  and  lower 
deck  are  appropriated  to  freight,  and  the  deck  hands  and  passengers  ; 
the  main  deck  has  a  long  cabin,  with  a  range  of  state-rooms  on 
each  side,  over  which  is  the  promenade  hurricane  deck,  oflB.cers* 
room,  pilot  house,  &c.     There,  that  will  do  for  steamboats. 

As  I  stood  on  the  upper  deck  of  one  of  the  finest — and  really  a 
magnificent  boat  of  this  kind — I  saw  four  ferry  boats,  two  above 
and  two  below,   plying    rapidly,  backward  and   forward.     It   was 


5?,  Ei^PEIlANZA. 

droll.  Each  passage  was  a  letter  S,  for  cvbd  the  ferry  boats,  with 
their  little  wharf-boats  oa  each  side,  were  obliged  to  make  the 
lauding  with  their  bows  up  stream.  80  when  they  started  they 
went  up,  turned,  went  down,  turned,  and  b}'  a  series  of  graceful 
curves,  came  heads  up  again;  and  as  the  river  is  narrow,  these 
curves  constituted  the  entire  voj-age. 

I  crossed  on  the  lower  ferry,  to  Covington,  walked  up  the  bank 
of  the  river  toward  the  government  barracks,  at  Newport,  crossed  a 
very  handsome  suspension  bridge,  over  a  small  river,  which,  run- 
ning in  a  channel  out  of  all  proportion  to  its  present  size,  looked 
like  a  small  boy  in  his  father's  great  coat,  and  came  back  by  the 
upper  ferry;  my  first  visit  to  the  State  of  Henry  Clay,  and  the 
Mammoth  Cave,  and  the  "hunters  of  Kentucky."  But  I  saw  none 
of  the  latter. 

But  all  this  seems  very  trilling.  What  I  liked  better  was  the 
great  steam  engines  that  pump  the  Ohio  into  a  reservoir,  for  the  use 
of  the  city.  A  steam  engine  is  such  a  human  thing.  It  is  the 
embodiment  of  the  mind  of  the  inventor,  and  the  muscular  power 
of  all  the  men  that  dug,  and  smelted,  and  cast,  fashioned  and  finished, 
the  iron  of  which  it  is  made. 

We  dined  sumptuously,  calmly,  delightfully.  Among  my  many 
faults,  darling,  is  that  of  eating,  not  wisely,  but  too  much,  and  too 
fast.  But  it  is  not  possible  to  do  any  rude  or  unrefined  thing  in 
Miss  Elmore's  presence.  She  is  a  refining  spirit,  toning  and  tem- 
pering all  to  her  own  pure  standard.  I  find  myself  unconsciously 
doing  as  she  does,  copying  her  manners,  and  not  so  much  trying  to 
please  her,  as  resigning  myself  to  the  influence  of  the  beautiful 
sphere  that  spreads  around  her.  She  was  dressed  in  a  rich  light 
blue,  trimmed  with  white,  and  wore  pearls  instead  of  diamonds. 
An  elderly  gentleman,  a  resident  of  the  city,  was  her  guest,  aud  sat 
ou  the  other  side  of  her.  He,  too,  ate  only  beautiful  food.  When 
we  came  to  the  dessert  she  said  to  me  in  a  low  tone — 

''Now  you  can  pay  your  respects  to  Cincinnati,  and  compliment 
our  guest,  by  sending  for  a  bottle  of  sparkling  catawba."  So  I 
called  for  a  card,  and  ordered  a  sample  of  Mr.  Longworth's  vintage." 

*'Ah  I"  said  the  old  gentleman,  when  his  glass  was  filled,  with  a 


ESPERANZA.  59 

glow  of  very  visible  satisfaction — ''  you  are  going  to  try  some  of 
our  native  wine.  We  think  no  small  deal  of  it;  and  our  Ohio 
Legislature,  when  they  passed  the  Maine  Law,  made  an  exception 
in  favor  of  the  native  article." 

"  Which  has  led,  I  presume,"  said  Miss  Elmore,  "  to  a  pretty 
extensive  naturalization  of  less  favored  potables." 

*'  Well,  I  believe  there  is  some  adulteration  going  on,"  said  he; 
but  this  is  the  genuine  catawba,"  he  added,  looking  at  his  glass 
lovingly,  and  sipping  off  the  bubbles  as  they  rose. 

"  It  is  very  well,"  Miss  Elmore  said,  tasting  her  glass  delicately; 
''  but  it  docs  not  taste  like  ours.  You  must  try  mine  after  dinner. 
This  has  something  of  the  harshness  and  discord  of  the  civilization 
which  produces  it.     How  do  you  find  it,  Mr.  Wilson?" 

I  had  tried  the  still  catawba  before,  this  was  sweeter  and  softer, 
and  the  sparkle  and  carbonic  acid  make  very  common  liquids 
palatable.  "  When  I  can  shut  out  the  remembrance  of  my  first 
love,  the  delicious  Widow  Cliquot,"  I  said,  "  I  think  I  may  get  up 
a  small  flirtation  with  this  ruddy  squaw,  Catawba." 

Our  Cincinnati  friend  was  amiable  enough  to  credit  this  as  a  jest 
worthy  of  his  favorite  wine ;  and  after  a  merry  dessert,  we  adjourned 
to  Miss  Elmore's  room,  which  I  found  to  be  an  elegant  private  par- 
lor, with  a  bed-room  adjoining.  I  had  not  asked  for  such  a  room,  but 
they  knew  her  here,  and  she  may  have  written  to  announce  her  coming. 

"  So  you  go  to-morrow,"  said  our  Cincinnatian,  with  a  tone  of 
sadness.  "It  is  an  angel's  visit;  we  get  a  glimpse  of  brightness, 
and  it  is  gone." 

"  My  dear  old  friend,"  said  Miss  Elmore,  laying  her  hand  ten- 
derly on  his  shoulder,  as  he  sat  beside  her,  and  looking  in  his  face 
with  an  expression  of  confiding  love,  "we  must  get  off  to-morrow, 
so  as  not  to  keep  our  friends  waiting  for  us,  and  you  must  work 
clear,  or  cut  loose  from  these  civilized  bonds,  and  come  and  be 
happy  with  us." 

"  My  work  is  here,  for  a  time,"  he  said.  "  I  must  stay  while  I  can 
do  good  to  the  cause,  and  help  to  prepare  others  to  join  us.  In  a 
few  years  my  active  life  will  be  over,  and  then  the  old  man  will 
come  and  take  his  rest,  and  enjoy  a  oalm  and  happy  sunset." 


60  ESPERANZA. 

"  Your  place  is  ready  whenever  you  can  cnnie,  and  if  you  can 
gather  a  little  group  of  true  ones  to  come  wiih  you,  they  will  be  so 
welcome.     The  hard  work  is  over,  and  we  live  in  plenty  and  peace." 

'*  And  Mr.  Wilson,  our  young  friend,  here,  does  he  go  to  join 

you?" 

"  He  goes  with  me,"  said  Miss  Elmore,  "  but  with  no  bond  upon 
the  future.  I  have  tried,  and  can  trust  him.  If  our  life  proves  to 
be  his,  he  will  be  with  us;  if  not,  there  will  be  no  harm.  We  have 
been  very  careful  about  visitors,  and  to  avoid  intrusion ;  but  we  are 
now  growing  strong  enough  to  venture  something  for  the  good  of 
others.  So  long  as  our  life  was  an  experiment,  I  think  we  did  well 
to  keep  it  in  all  secresy.  Now,  that  it  is  a  forever  assured  success, 
which  nothing  but  some  great  convulsion  can  destroy,  we  may  begin 
to  give  the  world  an  idea  of  the  happiness  that  awaits  it.  If  Mr. 
Wilson  does  not  belong  to  us,  he  will  make  a  good  report  of  us. 

"I  have  only  one  stipulation  to  make,"  she  said,  turning  to  me, 
"  and  that  is  for  others.  I  could  trust  you,  for  myself.  You  will 
promise  vs,  in  your  letters,  after  we  leave  the  Mississippi,  not  to 
give  localities.  All  the  rest  you  are  welcome  to  give  to  your  friends, 
or  to  the  whole  world." 

I  gave  the  required  promise,  and  was  glad  to  know  what  I  might 
properly  communicate  to  you,  and,  if  it  prove  of  interest  enough,  to 
all  who  may  choose  to  read;  for  as  I  go  on  with  this  narrative,  as 
I  remember  each  day  more  clearly,  and  write  it  down  in  these  rapid 
characters  with  more  facility,  I  turn  my  thoughts  to  the  many  who 
may  be  as  interested  as  we,  in  what  promises  to  be  a  curious  adven- 
ture, for  I  confess  the  mystery  increases  hour  by  hour.  Each  hour 
develops  something  new  in  this  admirable  woman,  and  I  have  already 
grown  impatient  to  see  a  society  in  which,  though  she  must  be  a 
ruling  destiny,  there  must  yet  be  those  who  are  worthy  of  her  beau- 
tiful dominion.  I  was  not  sorry  to  learn  that  we  take  the  first  boat 
down  to-iuovrow. 

"Now,  sing  me  one  little  song,"  said  our  visitor,  "and  I  will  go 
and  get  ready  for  the  evening." 

Miss  Elmore,  with  that  cheerful  promptness  with  which  she  does 
every  thing,  and  which  adds  a  charm  to  her  kindness,  opened  a  cabi- 


EsPEBAtrZA.  61 

net  piauo-forte,  and  sang,  in  low,  sweet  tones,  Mrs.  Hemans'  little 
song — 

"  Come  to  the  sunset  tree  ; 

The  day  is  past  and  gone. 
The  woodman's  axe  lies  free. 
And  the  reaper's  work  is  done." 

The  thoughts  of  one,  and  the  hopes  of  the  other,  I  could  feel, 
were  in  the  home  of  which  she  had  been  speaking,  and  which  I, 
before  many  days,  am  hoping  to  see.  When  the  la&t  tremulous  note 
sank  into  the  repose  of  silence,  I  saw  that  her  long  lashes  were 
wet,  and  the  tears  were  running  unchecked  down  the  other's  fur- 
rowed cheeks.  I  will  not  swear  that  my  own  were  dry.  He  rose, 
grasped  her  hand,  and  as  she  bent  toward  him,  he  pressed  his  lips 
to  her  forehead,  and  with  a  fervent  "God  bless  you!"  left  us. 

"The  dear  old  man!"  said  Miss  Elmore,  as  she  came  and  sat  at 
the  window  beside  me.  "For  twenty  years  he  has  worked  and 
hoped  for  some  kind  of  social  reorganization.  He  was  a  sanguine 
disciple  of  Fourier,  and  believed  that  all  we  required  was  the  power 
of  wealth  to  make  harmony  out  of  discord.  He  saw  a  hundred  poor, 
meagre,  and,  of  course,  abortive  eflForts;  but  he  hoped  and  believed 
through  all.  Now,  what  he  has  so  long  wished  has  come,  and  though 
not  in  his  fashion,  he  is  happy  in  the  fact  of  success,  and  in  the  hope 
of  spending  his  last  years  in  the  personal  enjoyment  of  something 
approaching  a  harmonic  life." 

"  And  then,  so  soon  to  die  ! "  I  said,  sadly ;  for  I  thought  how 
little  time  he  had,  after  a  long  life  of  toil  and  disappointment,  to 
enjoy  this  happiness. 

"Not  so  soon,  perhaps.  Our  friend  is  sixty,  with  a  vigorous 
constitution,  and  living  a  pure  life,  as  one  can  live  here,  where  the 
very  air  is  loaded  with  impurity.  If  he  will  come  to  us,  we  will 
give  him  twenty  years  of  calm,  restful  life.  And  when,  in  the  wise 
and  voluntary  separation  of  the  spirit,  in  the  death  of  age,  and 
the  birth  to  a  higher  life,  we  shall  lay  his  form  away,  and  cover  it 
with  flowers,  his  spirit  will  be  with  us  still,  in  a  more  intimate 
communion. 

"Please  don't  wander  off  again.     I  would  like  your  company  thia 


62  ESPERANZA. 

evening;''  slie  continued;  changing  her  manner  to  its  usual  play- 
fulness; and  I  took  this  as  a  signal  to  leave  her.  As  I  passed  the 
office,  a  gentleman,  and  two  ladies ;  brother  and  sisters,  apparently, 
inquired  for  her,  and  were  shown  to  her  room.  I  went  down  into 
the  reading-room,  and  read  the  newspapers  till  tea  time. 

Just  at  twilight,  we  walked  out  on  Vine  street,  and  up  toward  the 
center  of  the  city.  We  entered  a  large,  square  building,  ascended 
two  flights  of  stairs,  and  found  our  excellent  old  friend  waiting  to 
show  us  into  a  neat  hall,  capable  of  seating  two  hundred  people.  It 
was  nearly  filled,  with  an  audience  of  old  and  young,  but  mostly  of 
those  not  yet  past  the  meridian  of  life  ;  intellectual,  tasteful,  aspiring 
and  hopeful.     The  sexes  were  about  equally  divided. 

At  the  end  of  the  hall  v,-as  a  raised  platform,  with  a  desk  and 
chairs  for  speakers.  Behind,  on  a  higher  elevation,  and  extending 
across,  was  the  choir  of  singers,  with  a  melodeon  fur  accompaniment. 
Over  this  platform,  was  painted  on  the  wall,  what  I  took  to  be 
a  symbol  of  this  society.  It  was  a  golden  crescent,  on  a  ground  of 
blue,  in  which  was  a  triangle  composed  of  three  gulden  stars. 
Around  them  were  budding  branches — symbols  of  growth.  Over 
them  was  a  scroll,  on  which  was  inscribed  with  golden  letters  on  a 
white  ground,  the  words,  <' Freedom,  Frateunity,  Chastity." 

As  we  walked  through  the  room,  a  murmur  ran  over  it,  and 
every  eye  was  turned  to  Miss  Elmore.  Our  friend  conducted  her 
to  the  raised  platform,  which  she  ascended;  she  looked  around  with 
a  happy  smile  of  recognition,  bowed  graciously,  and  took  her  seat. 
I  was  shown  to  a  vacant  one  in  the  corner,  where  I  could  see  all. 

Our  friend,  who  seemed  the  presiding  officer,  now  rose,  placed 
upon  his  breast  a  scarf  of  blue,  embroidered  with  golden  stars,  and 
said,  ^^  In  the  name  of  our  Sacred  Orders,  I  open  this  meeting  for 
Harmony,  Growth,  and  Aspiration  to  the  True  Life." 

I  took  my  note-book,  that  I  might  lose  nothing.  There  was 
a  small  choir  of  four  male  and  two  female  voices,  besides  the  leader, 
who  accompanied — a  musical  group  of  seven.  The  leader  took  his 
seat  at  the  instrument,  played  a  delicate  prelude ;  and  the  choir 
sang  a  quartette,  doubling  the  tenor  and  bass,  with  a  perfection  of 
time,  harmony,  and  style,  I  have  seldom  heard  equaled.     It  had  the 


ESPERANZA.  63 

true  effect  of  music,  harmonizing  the  whole  audience  to  one  common 
feeling.  The  outer  world  was  lost  to  us.  The  president  then  said  ; 
"  Are  there  any  candidates  present  for  the  Order  of  Growth?"  A 
young  man,  of  nearly  my  own  age,  and  his  two  sisters,  came 
forwtird.  The  youngest  did  not  seem  more  than  twelve  years  old. 
They  stood  before  the  stand. 

"Do  you  come  in  freedom?"  was  asked  of  them.  They  answered, 
"  We  are  free." 

"  Do  you  accept,  and  will  you  endeavor  to  order  your  lives  by,  the 
principles  of  equity,  progress  and  harmony,  that  have  been  unfolded 
to  you  ?  " 

"  We  accept,  and  will  endeavoi'." 

''  May  all  good  spirits  guard,  and  guide,  and  strengthen  you  in 
the  Order  of  Growth,  with  whose  symbol  I  now  invest  you;"  saying 
which,  he  presented  to  each  a  symbol  of  the  order,  and  continued: 

"  My  children  !  be  faithful  to  the  trust  that  is  now  given  you,  and 
the  work  in  which  you  have  engaged.  Cultivate  all  your  faculties ; 
improve  ail  your  gifts ;  let  the  vigor  of  your  lives  flow  out  in  all 
uses,  that  none  stagnate  or  waste.  Develope  your  whole  beings  in 
harmony ;  aspire  to  all  purity  of  thought  and  life,  obey  the  moni- 
tions of  your  guardian  spirits,  and  so  prepare  for  the  True  Life  on 
the  Earth,  and  the  transcendant  Harmonies  of  the  supernal  Heavens. 
May  all  good  angels  bless  you." 

As  they  bowed  reverently,  the  choir,  which,  with  the  audience, 
had  risen  during  this  most  impressive  ceremony,  sung  a  song  of 
welcome,  which  was  a  rhythmical  rendering  of  the  charge  just 
given. 

The  little  group  took  their  seats  together,  with  a  glow  of  happi- 
ness, and  a  moment  after,  Miss  Elmore  rose,  and  stood  before  us. 

Not  when  she  came  to  me  first,  a  forgiving  angel ;  not  when  she 
stood  on  Table  Rock ;  at  no  time  had  she  seemed  so  beautiful  as 
now.  There  was  a  flush  on  her  pure  cheek ;  a  light  in  her  eye  ;  a 
divine  radiance  all  around  her;  yet  ter  manner  was  calm,  and  full 
of  dignity  and  sweetness;  and  her  voice  low,  rich,  and  without 
a  tremor.  I  could  not  help  looking  at  her.  I  forgot  myself,  and  lost 
Bome  sentences,  and  no  transcript  of  words  will  give  you  any  idea  of. 


64  ESPERANZA. 

the  charm  of  her  manner ;  but  I  must  send  you  what  I  can  of  her 
address,  though  I  know  well  that  it  is  like  a  pressed  flower;  its 
beauty  half  preserved,  and  all  its  freshness  and  fragrance  wanting. 

''Dear  Friends!"  she  began,  after  looking  round  on  all,  with 
a  loving  regard,  "  I  am  very  happy  to  meet  so  many  of  my  human 
brothers  and  sisters,  who,  amid  this  Babel  of  a  discordant  and 
oppressive  civilization,  can  respect  their  interior  attractions  toward  a 
purer,  freer,  and  nobler  life  than  civilization  aflFords. 

"  Long  and  earnestly,  through  all  the  ages  of  our  progress, 
humanity  has  aspired  toward  the  true  life  of  the  Future,  that  now 
dawns  upon  us.  Failing  to  find  it  here;  growing  faithless  of  its 
possibility  on  earth,  the  good  have  looked  for  harmony  and  hap- 
piness only  in  the  life  of  the  Heavens,  and  while  they  have  daily 
prayed,  '  Thy  kingdom  come,  thy  will  be  done,  on  Earth  as  it  is  in 
Heaven ;'  they  have  either  prayed  without  faith,  or  looked  forward 
to  some  mystical,  and  illy  conceived  millennium. 

"The  kingdom  of  Heaven  is  its  life  of  Freedom,  Harmony  and 
Happiness  ;  and  that  Life  we  can  enter  upon  here,  whenever  we  can 
place  ourselves  in  its  conditions.  The  Earth,  our  home,  is  adapted 
to  the  exercise  and  satisfaction  of  all  the  faculties  we  now  possess, 
and  therefore  to  the  enjoyment  of  all  the  happiness  of  which  we  are 
now  capable. 

"  I  speak,  dear  friends,  no  longer  as  a  theorist  in  Social  Science; 
no  longer  do  I  reason  of  possibilities,  and  assure  you  that  the 
attractions  of  the  Human  Soul  are  in  proportion  to  its  destinies,  as 
the  axiom  which  proves  a  True  Life  and  a  True  Society  practicable. 
I  have  a  happier  duty  to  perform  :  to  tell  you  that  the  problem 
is  solved  ;  that  our  millennium  is  begun  ;  that  there  exists,  even  now, 
not  only  the  germ,  but  the  well  grown,  vigorous  plant,  of  a  healthy, 
social  life. 

"  I  no  longer  say  to  you  that  such  a  life  is  possible  for  us ;  I  say 
that  it  now  exists  for  us,  and  opens  its  loving  arms  to  receive  those 
who  are  ready  to  enjoy  its  blessings  ;  and  to  enfold,  in  the  bosom  of 
plenty  and  peace,  all  who  can  come  out  of  the  discordances  of 
civilization. 


ESPERANZA,  66 

"The  Life  of  Harmony,  which  has  come  down  to  us  from  the 
Heavens,  is  like  a  tender  plant,  to  be  cherished  with  care  ;  and 
great  secrecy  has  been  deemed  needful  to  guard  its  earlier  unfoldings. 
But  I  am  the  witness  and  the  proof  that  such  a  society  exists ;  and 
though  I  am  not  ready,  even  here,  to  proclaim  its  locality,  or  to 
subject  it  to  the  risk  of  an  incursion  of  crude  and  undeveloped 
persons,  who  might  bring  discord  into  its  harmonies  j  I  can,  and  do 
tell  you,  that  all  who  advance  truly,  in  the  orders  of  harmony,  will 
realize  all  that  they  can  hope,  and  more  than  they  can  now  conceive 
of  in  the  life  of  our  society. 

"It  is  a  home  of  freedom.  The  limbs  and  organs  of  your  body  are 
not  more  free  in  all  their  functions,  than  are  the  members  of  our 
society.  There  is  no  government,  but  the  self-government  of 
developed  and  harmonized  faculties.  As  in  the  heavens,  attraction 
is  our  only  law.  Each  one  finds  his  place,  and  work,  and  enjoy- 
ment, in  obedience  to  his  spontaneous  desires  ;  fur  health  is  the  law, 
and  disease  the  rare  exception.  It  is  a  freedom  of  which  you  can 
hardly  conceive;  but  we  have  found  it  the  first  and  most  absolute 
condition  of  harmony,  and  every  attempt  to  impose  the  life  or 
thought  of  one,  as  an  authority  to  control  another,  has  produced  a 
discordant  jar,  which  we  hastened  to  remedy.  We  have  found,  as 
we  were  taught,  that  there  is  no  truth  but  in  freedom;  and  that 
freedom  is  not  only  consistent  with,  but  an  absolute  condition  of 
order. 

"  Our  home  is  a  home  of  plenty.  The  earth  seems  blessed  with 
an  abounding  fertility.  Our  granaries  are  full.  Our  trees  and 
vines  are  loaded  with  fruitage.  Our  active,  spontaneous,  irrepres- 
sible industry,  has  accumulated  all  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  many 
of  the  luxuries  of  art.  Our  surplus  has  a  convenient  market,  and  we 
readily  exchange  all  we  do  not  care  to  use. 

"  It  is  a  home  of  love.  In  the  exercise  and  outflowing  of  all 
faculties,  attractions  and  ambitions,  we  still  find  that  the  central 
life  is  the  life  of  the  heart.  Our  love  is  as  free  as  our  thoughts  and 
lives.  Raised  above  the  plane  of  sensual  excess;  our  energies 
flowing  out  in  industry  and  art;  in  the  daily  intercouse  of  life, 
giving  from  all  faculties  to   all  faculties ; "  our  purified,  ennobled, 


66  ESPEIIANZA. 

and  emancipated  loves,  become  to  us  only  sources  of  good.  These 
relations  are  thus  made  sacred ;  and  not,  as  over  the  earth,  sources 
of  disease,  evils,  and  sufferings  innumerable.  Our  children  are  the 
pure  and  beautiful  offspring  of  wisdom  and  love ;  never  the  de- 
formed, diseased,  discordant  progeny  of  ignorance  and  disgust.  We 
are  happy  in  our  loves,  and  very  happy  in  the  children  that  bless 
them,  and  who  promise  to  bless  the  world  by  being  born  and 
nurtured  in  the  harmony  of  a  true  life. 

"  I  bring  you  a  cheerful  greeting  from  the  heart  life  of  this  home; 
and  I  tender  its  welcome  to  all  of  you  who  may  become,  in  all 
respects,  worthy  to  become  members  of  our  society.  But  we  must 
be  patient  of  growth.  You  would  not  wish  to  mar  our  harmony,  by 
coming  before  you  were  ready.  It  is  better,  for  the  time,  tiiat  we 
be  assured,  beyond  all  doubt,  that  each  one  who  comes  to  us  is  in 
every  way  worthy  to  become  a  partaker  of  our  life.  Whatever  is 
not  of  us,  must  be  cast  out.  AYe  can  not  assimilate  crude  and  hurt- 
ful materials.  A  selfish,  jealous,  discordant  civilizee  would  be  to 
us  like  a  mote  in  the  eye,  or  a  sliver  in  the  hand.  He  would  be 
like  an  unskilled  player,  or  an  untuned  instrument  in  an  orchestra. 

"Dear  friends,  if  you  would  be  worthy  of  all  the  freedom  and 
happiness  of  a  harmonic  life,  purify  and  harmonize  your  own  beings, 
attune  your  lives  to  our  harmony,  which  is  but  the  harmony  of  your 
own  true  natures.  It  is  a  spiritual  unfolding  of  the  inner  life  of 
man,  now  comprehended,  now  possible,  now  realized  by  a  few,  and 
ready  soon  to  be  extended  to  all  who  can  partake  of  this  life  of  the 
heavens." 

So  far,  I  have  taken  down  what  was  said  and  done;  but  at  this 
point,  her  eye  sought  me,  and  by  a  glance  I  understood,  placed  the 
seal  of  secresy  on  what  followed.  It  related  to  certain  movements 
of  the  general  organizat-ion,  of  one  of  whose  branches  I  was  a  guest, 
and  I  can  no  more  divulge  what  I  understood  to  be  conSdential,  than 
I  could  visit  a  family  and  betray  its  seoi'ets. 

At  the  close,  when  Miss  Elmore  had  taken  a  most  affectionate 
and  affecting  leave  of  them,  in  words  that  filled  all  eyes  with  tears, 
in  which  there  was  more  of  hope  and  joy  than  sorrow,  she  went  to 
the  instrument  and  sang  a  song  worthy  of  the  home  of  which  she 


EsPERANZA.  67 


had  told  us.  The  choir  then  sang  its  parting  song  of  benediction; 
and  in  a  moment  she  was  suriounded  bj  a  group  of  those  who 
pressed  to  touch  her  hand,  and  to  express  some  hope  of  a  future,  to 
which  she  was  the  guiding  star. 

We  went  home  in  the  fair  moonlight.  We  then  went  to  her 
room,  when  she  brought  a  curious  little  decanter  and  glasses,  and 
said : — 

"Mj  father,  I  said  you  must  taste  our  vintage.  It  bears  the 
aroma  of  the  home  to  which  I  hope  soon  to  welcome  you.  You 
must  bring  along  those  beautiful  and  loving  hearts  that  are  forming 
and  clustering  here,  and  all  come  together  as  soon  as  they  are 
ready.  I  see  that  you  can  not  be  spared  here  yet.  But  the  time 
will  come  and  your  reward  is  sure." 

We  drank  from  the  delicate  glasses  to  that  hope. 

*'Here,"  she  said,  handing  him  the  little  decanter  and  our  fairy 
glass,  "keep  these  in  our  remembrance;  and  now  to  our  business." 

She  held  out  her  hand  to  me;  it  was  my  signal  of  good  night. 
I  took  it,  and  pressed  it  reverently  to  my  lips  and  heart.  She  look- 
ed at  me  with  an  earnest,  inquiring  look,  as  if  she  would  read  my 
soul,  but  said  not  a  word. 

And  I  came  to  my  room  and  have  written.  And  now,  dear  one, 
the  morrow  takes  me  further  on  this  journey.  Day  and  night  we 
shall  move  on  down  the  current  of  these  great  rivers.  But  I  shall 
write  you  every  day,  and  give  you  faithfully,  oh !  most  faithfully, 
the  life  that  comes  to  me. 

May  the  angels  guard  you  from  all  pain  and  sorrow,  and  keep 
your  love  pure  as  mine. 


V. 

THE   OHIO    AND   THE    MISSISSIPPI. 

"Once  more  upon  the  waters,"  dearest  Clara.  In  some  former 
phase  of  my  existence,  I  must  have  been  a  water  fowl.  Now  we  are 
"  Going  down  the  river — the  0-h-i-o."  I  surrender  myself  to  all  the 
idleness  of  this  week's  voyage,  very  happily;  but  let  me  proceed  with 
my  orderly  narration. 

I  wrote  late  last  night,  but  still  I  did  not  sleep.  I  thought  and 
lived  over  the  day  and  evening.  The  sweet  voice  still  sounded  in 
my  ears ;  the  life  portrayed  to  us,  excited  my  imagination,  and  the 
world  of  civilization  seemed  such  a  sordid,  miserable  sham.  I 
needed  no  Thackaray  to  draw  it.  After  a  time  I  fell  asleep  and 
dreamed  that  we — you  and  I — were  the  inmates  of  this  home ;  but 
it  seemed  far  away  in  cloudland,  and  I  looked  down  on  the  groaning 
earth  with  a  great  pity. 

We  made  a  late  breakfast.  Miss  Elmore  was  calm,  and  a  little 
pale.  I  think  she  longs  for  her  home,  and  for  the  society  of  those 
she  loves.  I  have  a  very  humiliating  consciousness  that  my  com- 
pany is  but  dull  to  her.  But  she  was  kind,  delicate,  and  almost 
tender,  in  her  voice  and  manner.  I  offered  my  services  toward  any 
preparation  for  our  journey ;  but  she  found  nothing  for  me  to  do. 

"We  can  take  our  choice  of  boats,"  she  said,  pointing  to  the  list 
of  those  up  for  New  Orleans.  "  The  river  is  high,  and  one  of  those 
will  suit  us  as  well  as  a  packet — so  we  shall  not  need  to  change  at 
Louisville." 

Before  breakfast  was  over,  our  good  friend  made  his  appearance, 
very  glad  to  see  us,  and  bringing  intelligence  of  a  fine  boat,  nearly 
loaded,  going  in  the  afternoon,  and  so  sure  to  suit  us,  that  he  had 
engaged  two  state-rooms. 
63 


EsPERA>,ZA.  60 

So,  after  breakfast,  we  went  down  to  the  public  landing,  and  there 
found  the  **  Effie  Afton/'  with  steam  up,  colors  flying,  freight  com- 
ing on  board  merrily,  and  every  appearance  of  a  speedy  departure. 

''You  will  allow  me  to  arrange  for  our  passage,"  said  Miss 
Elmore.  Two  minutes  after,  I  think  the  captain  would  have  placed 
his  boat  and  himself  at  her  disposal.  I  don't  see  but  a  fresh  water 
sailor  is  as  gallant  as  a  salt.  Captain  Ilardstein  is  as  pleasant  as  a 
pet  Walrus.  Very  confidentially,  and  as  a  special  favor,  he  informed 
us  that  though  the  bills  said  twelve  o'clock,  five  would  answer  every 
purpose. 

Miss  Elmore  had  her  own  work  to  do ;  but  I  am  fit  for  nothing, 
after  a  passage  is  engaged,  and  before  the  hour  of  starting.  It  is 
only  to  wear  away  the  iutermediate  time.  So  I  lounged  in  a  read- 
ing room,  and  bookstores,  and  a  meager  picture  gallery,  and  a  horri- 
ble museum.  I  sauntered  by  the  river  and  the  canal.  I  went  into 
lager  bier  gardens,  and  looked  at  great  manufactories.  At  last 
came  dinner  time,  and  I  went  joyfully  to  meet  the  happiness  of  our 
last  dinner  here.  All  the  morning,  in  my  lonely  saunterings,  I 
compared  the  life  I  saw,  with  the  beautiful  life  that  may  be ;  and 
the  women  I  saw  with  this  woman,  who,  at  least,  is  no  dream,  but 
a  living  reality. 

''  You  have  been  a  truant,"  she  said,  as  she  held  out  a  frank 
hand  to  welcome  me,  when  I  entered  the  drawing-room,  "  Are 
you  enamored  of  Cincinnati,  that  you  have  deprived  me  of  your 
company,  all  this  morning  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  forget,"  I  said,  with  a  humility,  which  had  no  pretence 
in  it,  "  how  little  I  can  be  to  you,  and  how  kind  you  have  been  to 
give  me  so  much  of  your  society." 

"  Well,  have  I  any  other  ?  Besides,  I  have  much  hope  of  you. 
I  have  been  at  work  this  morning ;  but  we  will  make  much  of  the 
coming  days ;  for  it  will  not  be  long  now  before  I  shall  have  rivals, 
who  will  dispute  my  claim  to  you.  You  are  to  prepare  yourself, 
like  a  gallant  knight,  to  defend  your  fortress." 

This  seemed  absurd  enough,  but  she  appeared  serious.  I  see  that 
there  is  one ;  but  I  have  no  expectation  of  finding  other  women 
like  this. 


70  Esi'EilANZA. 

We  dined,  and  at  five  o'clock  shook  hands  with  our  Cincinnati 
friend  on  the  steamboat ;  then  backed  out  into  the  stream,  came 
round  handsomely,  and  pointed  our  bows  toward  the  setting  sun. 

And  here  we  are  on  the  river,  and  here  I  begin  the  record  of  this 
voyage — of  the  length  and  duration  of  which  I  am  in  a  state  of 
blessed  uncertainty — but  what  matter,  so  it  be  blessed  ? 

I  began  my  letter  last  evening,  sitting  on  the  guards  or  balcony 
outside  my  state-room,  and  writing  by  the  red  light  of  a  western 
sun-set,  while  we  glided  past  the  panorama  of  the  Indiana  shore. 
As  the  light  faded.  Miss  Elmore  came  and  joined  me.  I  put  up 
my  writing,  as  she  sat  at  my  side,  and  began  to  tune  a  small,  sweet- 
toned  guitar.  Soon  her  fingers  swept  over  it,  and  brought  out  the 
harmonies  I  love.  She  seemed  to  muse  and  meditate  in  music, 
which  became  the  expression  of  every  thought,  emotion,  and  memory 
Soon  she  began,  in  a  low  voice,  to  sing  old  familiar  tunes — the  airs 
of  her  childhood  and  ours.  It  was  very  pleasant  to  hear  the  old 
songs  we  have  so  often  sung  together;  and  I  ventured  to  join  in 
them.     And  so  we  glided  along. 

We  were  alone,  but  not  unobserved.  Forward,  there  was  a  group 
of  the  colored  waiters,  listening  in  silence  and  with  great  enjoyment; 
nearer  were  passengers,  but  all  at  a  respectful  distance.  There  was 
not  an  ill-mannered  remark,  nor  the  least  intrusion.  It  was  no 
repulsion,  or  haughtiness  of  manner  that  kept  them  thus  apart  from 
our  little  communion ;  but  a  perception  of  that  sweet  dignity  and 
purity,  which  commands  universal  respect  and  admiration.  I  could 
see  it  in  the  look  and  manner  of  every  one.  As  the  night  closed 
round  us,  she  laid  the  instrument  down ;  our  friendly  visitors 
retired,  and  we  sat  conversing. 

"  We  are  now  fairly  embarked  on  our  voyage,"  said  she.  "  You 
are  the  first  person,  not  initiated  into  our  society  and  principles,  who 
has  been  invited  to  visit  us.  But  we  grow  strong,  and  secure  in  our 
strength.  You  are  to  be  trusted  personally;  and  the  time  approaches 
when  the  world  will  be  ready  to  reap  the  benefit  of  our  work.  You 
will  see  things  which  will  seem  very  strange  to  you ;  but  if  you 
can  lay  aside  the  prejudices  of  education  and  custom,  I  think  they 
will  not  seem  false  or  unnatural." 


ESPEKANZA.  71 


"I  can  not  feel  that  I  am  so  prejudiced,  as  to  think  our  society 
perfect ; "  I  replied,  '^  or  to  condemn  another  which  secures  in  a 
greater  degree  the  true  objects  of  society ;  the  improvement  or 
happiness  of  all  who  compose  it." 

"  Society  perfect ! "  she  said,  with  a  voice  of  deep  scorn,  softened 
by  pity.  "  Perfect !  This  society  that  produces  and  perpetuates 
ignorance,  poverty,  disease,  sensuality,  bigotry,  and  all  despotisms 
and  slaveries  ?  A  society  where  the  rich  plunder  the  poor  ;  where 
the  learned  oppress  the  ignorant ;  where  disease,  wickedness,  and 
crime  are  the  support  of  three  great  learned  professions  ;  where 
birth  is  a  curse,  and  life  a  burthen  ;  where  nine-tenths  die  prema- 
ture deaths  of  exhaustion,  and  the  diseases  of  evil  habits;  where 
body,  mind,  and  heart  are  alike  enslaved,  and  where  there  is  not 
the  first  condition  of  happiness  in  a  true  freedom  ?  I  shall  show 
you  something  better  than  this." 

"  You  speak  much  of  freedom,  as  a  condition  of  happiness.  Do 
you  think  freedom  compatible  with  civilization?" 

"  Every  human  condition  has  its  own  laws.  The  selfishness  of 
civilization  requires  the  isolate  household,  marriage,  the  slavery  or 
ownership  of  woman,  jealousy  or  the  property  feeling,  applied  to  her 
as  well  as  every  thing  else,  and  so  on.  If  you  will  think  it  over,  you 
will  find  all  social  moralities  belonging  to  this  civilized  condition." 

"  And  does  a  difi"erent  state  bring  different  ideas  of  morality  ?  " 

''  That  is  not  a  very  wise  question.  Are  not  all  social  morals 
conventional,  and  related  to  the  system  which  they  guard  ?  For 
example,  it  is  very  moral  and  highly  respectable,  in  the  polite 
Empire  of  China,  to  have  twelve  wives  ;  in  Turkey,  four;  Solomon 
is  nowhere  condemned  for  his  fimily  establishment,  which  the 
morality  of  the  age  sanctioned,  but  for  worshipping  strange  gods. 
England  has  one  code  of  morals  and  respectability ;  Italy  another. 
In  France,  maidens  are  recluse,  and  married  women  free ;  here 
liberty  belongs  to  the  unappropriated." 

"  But  still,  there  must  be  an  absolute  right,  above  all  these 
customs  and  conventionalisms  I" 

"  Ah  !  that  is  what  you  have  to  find,  and  what  we  have  found. 
Now  think  out  for  yourself,  what  this  absolute  right  is  ;  and  then 


72  EtJPERANZA. 

you  ■will  see  how  near  we  have  come  to  its  realization.  Grood  night, 
and  happy  dreams.     Will  you  help  me  to  see  the  sun  rise  ?  " 

With  a  kind  pressure  of  the  hand  she  left  me,  and  retired  to  her 
state-room.  I  went  forward  to  the  bow  of  the  boat  and  enjoyed  the 
freshness  of  the  evening  breeze,  and  the  music  of  the  gurgling 
waters  that  foamed  around  our  prow.  Soon  I  saw^  a  cloud  of  smoke 
below  J  a  line  of  glaring  reil  lights;  then  two  tall  chimneys,  and 
soon  an  upward  bound  steamer,  illuminated  like  a  floating  palace, 
rushed  roaring  past  us.  And  I  retired  to  my  berth,  to  think  and 
dream. 

On  a  boat,  the  bustle  of  the  day  begins  early.  A  bell  is  rung  to 
waken  all  drowsy  passengers.  But  I  did  not  wait  for  the  bell.  I 
heard  the  dash  of  water  in  the  state-room  next  mine,  and  sprang 
from  a  wide  and  comfortable  berth,  enclosed  with  musquito  nets, 
to  perform  my  own  ablutions.  I  found  Miss  Elmore  fresh  as  the 
rosy  morning,  on  the  hurricane  deck.  We  were  gliding  through  a 
fine  country  on  both  sides  of  the  river — Indiana  and  Kentucky — and 
in  the  distance  were  the  spires  of  Louisville,  where  we  arrived  just 
after  breakfast. 

A  traveler  should  give  some  account  of  manners  and  customs. 
Those  of  a  western  steamboat  are  unique. 

The  great  cabin  of  our  boat,  (and  all  these  boats  are  much  alike) 
is,  perhaps,  two  hundred  feet  long.  The  first  thirty  feet  from  the 
forward  entrance  is  liberty  hall.  Here  is  the  clerk's  office,  the  bar 
or  saloon,  as  they  call  it,  and  the  barber's  shop.  Each  is  a  state- 
room ;  and  drinking  and  shaving  are  both  done  in  the  space  forward. 
Here  the  floor  is  bare,  or  covered  with  coarse  matting,  and  spittoons 
are  plentiful.  Then  begins  a  carpet,  and  the  extension  tables  of  the 
great  cabin,  which  are  closed  up  in  several  divisions,  after  every 
meal,  and  where  parties  sit  playing  the  favorite  games  of  the  West, 
euchre  or  poker.  The  last  thirty  feet  is  the  ladies  saloon,  furnished 
more  pompously  than  the  rest ;  but  not  separated  until  10  o'clock 
at  night,  when  folding  doors  close  up  this  sanctum  sanctorum. 

When  the  first  breakfast  bell  rings,  the  captain  or  clerk,  generally 
the  latter,  takes  his  place  at  the  head  of  the  table,  which  is,  of  course, 
its  after  extremity.     On  all  water-craft,  the  bead  is  the  tail,  and 


ESPERANZA  73 


precedence  is  to  come  last.  All  the  ladies,  and  gentlemen  attending 
ladies,  seat  themselves  near  the  head  of  the  table,  but  the  whole 
double  line  of  forlorn  male  bipeds  remains  standing,  until  every 
lady  is  seated ;  and  if  any  one  can  not  get  her  curls  arranged  or  her 
collar  pinned  in  season,  they  all  wait  with  the  most  wonderful 
patience  and  gravity. 

When  the  master  of  ceremonies  is  satisfied  that  every  feminine  is 
in  her  seat,  he  gives  the  signal  for  the  second  bell ;  and  the  un- 
privileged male  passengers  sit  down  and  fall  to  without  further 
ceremony. 

We  stopped  at  Louisville  two  hours  to  discharge  and  receive 
freight,  and  Miss  Elmore  accompanied  me  on  a  tour  of  observation, 
but  we  saw  little  peculiar  or  worthy  of  notice.  A  northerner  looks 
for  some  sign  of  slavery,  but  I  could  not  see  that  there  were  any 
more  negroes  than  in  New  York,  or  that  they  differed  materially  in 
their  condition. 

I  asked  Miss  Elmore  about  it.  *'  There  are  great  hardships 
incident  to  slavery,"  she  said,  "but  travelers  can  see  but  little  of 
them.  Slaves  are  sold,  rather  oftener  than  our  free  girls  at  the 
north.  I  am  not  sure  that  they  find  harder  masters,  or  that  it  is 
more  difficult  to  get  away.  Year  by  year,  as  many  wives  are  killed 
by  their  husbands  in  New  York  city,  as  negroes  by  their  masters  in 
the  whole  south.  Children  are  whipped,  abused  and  starved,  by 
bad  parents  at  the  north,  as  negroes  are  by  bad  masters  at  the 
South.  Every  Legree  here,  can  be  matched  by  some  sensual, 
drunken  husband  and  father  there.  A  good  man  is  a  good  husband, 
parent,  or  master.  A  bad  man  finds  the  means  in  either  place  to 
wreak  his  badness  on  some  one  under  his  control." 

"But  the  law  affords  relief  in  one  case,  which  it  does  not  in  the 
other,''  I  said. 

"  Are  you  quite  sure  of  that  ?  In  how  many  cases  does  the  law 
interfere  to  protect  wife,  or  child,  or  apprentice  from  the  cruelty  of 
a  brutal  husband,  father  or  master  ?  There  is  law  and  custom, 
public  opinion  and  humanity,  here  as  there.  There  is  but  little 
difference.  When  men  and  womea  are  far  enough  advanced  to  own 
themselves,  they  will  not  be  owned.     When  they  can  govern  them, 


74  ESPERANZA. 

selves,  they  will  not  be  governed.  In  New  Orleans  the  relation  of 
master  and  slave  is  usually  very  mild,  I  know  a  bookseller,  whose 
smartest  clerk  is  a  mulatto  slave  j  and  he  wears  diamond  shirt 
studs.  I  know  a  large  cotton  house,  whose  head  clerk  is  the 
property  of  the  firm ;  and  I  have  seldom  seen  a  more  competent  or 
gentlemanly  man  of  business.  He  lives  iu  a  neat  cottage,  and  has 
a  wife  and  family.  All  slaveries  are  wrong,  and  an  evil,  but  it  does 
not  appear  that  all  wrongs  and  evils  are  concentrated  in  one.  I, 
who  believe  in  universal  freedom,  rate  them  all  alike,  differing  only 
in  degrees  of  misery,  as  circumstances  make  them  differ." 

We  returned  to  our  steamer,  now  ready  to  start.  The  abundant 
rains  had  swollen  the  river,  and  our  captain  had  decided  to  save  his 
toll  by  "  running  the  chute,"  instead  of  going  through  the  canal  and 
locks,  which  in  the  three  miles  between  Louisville  and  Porth\ud,  raise 
or  lower  the  boats  a  hundred  feet.  There  was  a  mile  of  swift,  and, 
in  places,  foaming  rapids ;  but  our  big  pilot  took  the  center  of 
the  current,  and  with  a  full  head  of  steam,  the  smart  "  Effie"  went 
over  flying.  It  was  grand.  We  were  forward  on  the  upper  deck, 
and  had  the  full  enjoyment  of  it.  It  was  good  railroad  speed,  but 
that  on  a  steamer  seems  rery  different.  The  falls  of  the  Ohio  are 
not  much  as  a  cataract,  but  very  good  boating,  when  there  is  water 
enough — short  and  sweet,  and  soon  over. 

After  this  little  excitement,  I  turned  my  thoughts  homeward,  and 
have  written  thus  far  on  a  letter  which  I  will  send  when  it  is  full. 
I  sit  and  write,  and  think  of  you  and  home,  so  far  in  the  northeast, 
and  then  of  the  unknown  home  which  I  long  and  yet  almost  fear  to 
see  and  know.  This  fear  comes  of  a  selfishness,  I  find,  in  my  heart. 
I  can  see  your  right  to  the  freedom  that  is  said  to  reign  in  this 
home ;  but  I  cannot  think  of  you  as  enjoying  its  possible  results. 
You  are  mine.  But  I  also  find  myself  growing  selfish  in  my  friend- 
ship for  Miss  Elmore.  I  am  disturbed  at  the  idea  of  seeing  her 
loving  and  being  beloved.  I  see  that  this  is  absurd,  and  wrong,  and 
hateful.  I  see  that  she  and  you,  and  every  one  should  be  free  from 
every  bond  on  your  spirits — free  to  love  all  that  is  lovely  to  you  ; 
and  I  know  that  I  would  not  have  the  love  that  was  owned  as 


ESPERANZA.  75 

property  j  and  yet  I  cannot  get  rid  of  the  feeling  which  men  have 
for  whatever  they  claim  as  their  own. 

During  the  long,  sunny  day,  the  passengers  either  clustered  around 
the  card  tables  in  the  cabin,  or  on  the  shady  side  on  the  guards,  in 
groups.  They  fell  into  conversations  on  various  subjects — they 
discussed  the  Maine  Law,  Kansas,  the  Eastern  War,  Knownothing- 
ism,  Spiritualism,  and  all  the  exciting  questions  of  the  day.  Free 
Love  and  Woman's  Rights  included.  A  country  Magistrate  gave 
hi.s  opinions  as  from  the  bench  of  justice;  an  itinerant  lecturer  on 
various  reforms  was  fanatical  on  all,  and  some  gentlemanly,  but 
hot-blooded  young  southerners  felt  bound  to  flash  fire  at  every  slur 
on  the  peculiar  institution. 

It  was  as  good  as  a  play.  A  pale  methodist  parson,  of  the  Church 
South,  defended  slavery  and  denounced  rum ;  preached  piety  and 
put  down  the  "  isms,"  with  a  warmth  that  was  very  amusing.  He 
had  so  many  sides  to  combat — repelling  now  the  assault  of  an 
abolitionist,  now  of  an  infidel;  and  whipping  his  little  testament  out 
of  his  side  pocket  to  quote  chapter  and  verse  on  every  subject. 
When  it  came  to  a  dispute  on  any  question  of  fact,  he  ofi"ered  to  bet 
a  Bible  !      . 

But  he  seems  a  very  innocent  man,  and  one  we  should  call  rather 
green,  in  spite  of  his  white  neckcloth.  A  lovely  little  girl,  five  years 
old,  the  daughter  of  a  radical  passenger,  bound  for  Minuesota,  gets 
into  his  lap,  and  talks  with  him.  She  was  curious  to  know  what 
book  he  was  reading.     He  told  her  it  was  the  Holy  Bible. 

"  Oh  !  "  she  cried,  "  I  have  got  a  leetle  hit  of  a  one  at  home,  and 
it  is  full  of  the  silliest  stories  !  "  Here  her  mother  interfered,  and 
put  a  stop  to  her  heresies. 

Once,  as  they  were  gathered  near  our  state-room,  the  discussion 
grew  warm  on  the  "  isms  of  the  day,"  as  the  preacher  termed 
them. 

"  There's  the  Woman's  Rights  question,"  said  he,  "  that  a  set  of 
infidel  and  abolitionist  women  are  agitating.  Its  all  against  the 
Bible.  Read  what  St.  Paul  says.  He  prea<;hed  the  true  doctrine. 
He  says,  '  wives  obey  your  husbands,'  and  he  would'nt  allow  a 
woman  to  teach,"     And  out  came  the  little  testament.     "Now,  who 


76  ESPERANZA. 

are  the  women  that  are  lecturing  about  Woman's  Rights?  Why,  they 
are  a  set  of  infidels.  Mary  Wollstonecraft,  that  wrote  the  first  book 
on  Woman's  Rights,  was  an  infidel,  and  opposed  to  marriage.  Funny 
Wright  was  an  infidel  and  an  Owenite.  Mrs.  Rose  is  a  rank  infidel 
and  makes  speeches  at  the  Tom  Paine  Festivals  in  i^ew  York.  Lucy 
Stone  is'nt  much  better;  for  she  got  married  under  protest.  I  tell 
you  they  are  all  infidels,  free-love  folks,  abolitionists,  and  spirit- 
ualists." 

Miss  Elmore,  who  was  standing  near  me,  looked  round  at  me 
with  a  benevolent  smile,  which  the  preacher  took  for  an  approval 
of  his  sentiments. 

*'  That's  so,  is'nt  it,  marm  ?"  said  he. 

•'  Do  you  wish  to  know  what  I  think  about  these  matters  ?  "  she 
asked,  quietly. 

"  Yes,  I  should,  for  you  seem  to  be  a  sensible  woman,  and  when 
I  meet  a  sensible  woman,  I  always  like  to  get  her  judgment." 

"  Then  you  differ  a  little  from  St.  Paul,  I  think,  for  he  did'nt 
allow  women  to  teach." 

A  roar  of  laughter  at  the  minister's  expense  showed  the  sym- 
pathies of  the  audience. 

"  Yes,  marm  ;  but  giving  your  opinion  will  not  be  the  kind  of 
authoritative  teaching,  which  the  apostle  intended." 

"  Perhaps  soj  but  if  my  opinion  should  happen  to  carry  convic- 
tion with  it,  how  would  it  be  ?  " 

"  I  think  it  would  be  very  well,  marm,  if  it  was  the  right  kind 
of  iin  opinion." 

"  But  St.  Paul  says  nothing  about  a  woman  teaching  truth  or 
falseliood — he  says  she  must  not  teach." 

And  here  was  another  laugh,  at  the  preacher  or  the  apostle,  I 
could'nt  tell  which. 

"Now,"  she  continued,  "when  you  will  allow  that  a  woman's 
opinion  may  be  as  good  as  a  man's,  and  that  she  has  as  good  a  right 
to  its  expression,  I  will  give  you  mine." 

This  was  a  poser,  which  divinity  could'nt  get  over  ;  and  amid  the 
laughter  of  the  delighted  audience,  he  was  compelled  to  withdraw 
his  appeal. 


ESPERANZA.  77 

When  we  were  alone,  I  asked  Miss  Elmore  why  she  refrained 
from  the  expression  of  her  sentiments  on  these  subjects. 

"  The  good  I  could  have  done,"  she  said,  "  would  not  have  com- 
pensated for  the  inconvenience,  and  it  would  have  been  bad  economy. 
This  poor  little  parson  would  not  have  been  benefited;  the  rest  are 
working  their  way  out  to  the  light  very  well,  as  it  is.  My  views 
would  not  satisfy  the  partisans  of  any  faith,  and  their  expression 
might  make  our  voyage   unpleasant.      What  I  did  was  as  well." 

"But  you  will  not  refuse  to  tell  me  your  thought  on  these  sub- 
jects," said  I. 

"  Oh,  no.  You  are  my  pupil ;  and  as  you  bLlieve  in  the  divine 
mission  and  right  of  women  to  teach  the  most  interior  truths,  I 
shall  not  refuse  you.  If  men  originate  principles,  women  give  them 
form  and  vitality.  The  law  of  sex  applies  to  the  intellectual  and 
moral  world,  as  well  as  the  physical. 

"  Abolition  is  the  protest  against  an  evil,  seen  more  clearly, 
because  distant.  Men  labor  to  abolish  negro  slavery  and  neglect 
their  own,  for  the  same  reason  that  they  send  missionaries  to  convert 
the  heathen,  and  neglect  the  pagans  of  their  own  parishes. 

"  The  Maine  Law  is  a  futile  effort  of  a  democratic  majority  to 
usurp  and  exercise  the  powers  of  a  benevolent  despot,  and  force 
people  to  do  right  against  their  inclinations.  The  agitation  will  do 
no  harm  in  the  end  ;  for  though  it  may  be  established  that  the  right 
to  drink  whisky  is  guaranteed  by  the  constitution  of  the  state,  it 
will  be  found  to  disagree  with  that  of  the  individual.  The  struggle 
tends  also  to  freedom ;  for  in  defending  the  individual  right  to  do 
wrong,  men  may  stumble  also  on  the  idea  of  a  right  to  do  right." 

"  But  can  there  be  a  right  to  do  a  wrong  ?  " 

'•  Not  in  the  abstract  and  ultimate ;  but  there  is  the  right  of 
individual  conscience,  and  every  one  must  be  left  free  to  do  what  he 
thinks  right,  so  long  as  he  does  not  interfere  with  the  same  right  in 
another.  This  freedom  is  the  condition  of  experience  and  knowledge. 
As  men  come  to  the  understanding  of  principles,  they  can  seize 
upon  the  absolute  right." 

*'  The  absolute — that  always  confuses  me.  In  human  actions 
every  thing  seem*  relative.     The  right  of  to-day  becomes  the  wrong 


78  Esi'ERAN/A.      ^ 

of  to-morrow.  What  is  right  to  do  under  certain  conditions,  is  very 
wrong  under  others." 

"  That  all  falls  under  the  law  of  relations,  which  is  as  infallible 
as  mathematics.  All  principles  are  absolute,  immutable,  eternal. 
Proportions,  relations,  and  adaptations  have  their  laws.  A  wise 
expediency  is  the  absolute  right.  We  carry  out  absolute  principles, 
by  truly  measuring  relations.  In  building,  the  level,  the  plumb 
line,  the  measure  and  square,  never  vary;  but  we  apply  them  to 
produce  all  convenient  forms  and  relations.  In  our  conduct,  we 
have  one  object — happiness;  the  means  are  the  adaptation  of  our 
faculties  and  passions,  to  the  objects  of  their  satisfaction  within  our 
reach.  You  will  think  this  all  over,  and  it  will  come  clearly  to  you. 
Work  it  out  like  a  problem  in  geometry.  You  will  find  that  all 
sciences  are  exact  sciences  when  you  know  them.  Rather,  you  will 
find  that  there  is  only  one  science,  and  when  you  get  to  the  central 
truth,  you  can  see  clearly  all  the  circumference." 

Thus,  dear  Clara,  does  this  woman  talk  with  me.  Thus  does  she 
instruct  me ;  and  yet  there  is  not  the  least  pedantry  or  pretension 
in  her  manner.  It  is  so  calm,  gentle  and  loveful ;  her  eyes  beam 
in  mine  with  a  light  so  soft  and  clear ;  her  smile  is  so  sweet ;  her 
tones  and  modulations  so  musical,  that  I  am  charmed,  and  yet  there 
seems  no  possibility  of  my  having  for  her  a  sentimental,  much  less 
a  sensual,  passion.  I  try  to  analyze  my  feelings.  I  try  to  tell  you 
the  actual  truth  ;  but  I  think  that  I  do  better  in  giving  you  these 
details,  and  allowing  you  to  form  your  own  opinion.  Whatever  my 
present  feeling,  or  future  relations  to  her,  I  know  that  I  have 
never  loved  you  more  dearly  than  now ;  and  I  never  seemed  to 
myself  to  be  so  worthy  of  your  love. 


I  rose  early  this  morning,  waked  by  the  rushing  steam.  We  had 
made  a  landing  at  Shawneetown,  a  lively  little  river  port  in  south- 
eastern Illinois.  We  were  to  stop  some  hours,  and  the  engineer 
blew  off  steam,  and  damped  his  furnaces.  I  will  go  on  with  our 
voyage. 

Last  evening  a  group  of  passengers  gathered  round  the  table  in 


ESPERANZA.  79 

the  ladies' s  cabin,  which,  though  a  part  of  the  long  open  saloon, 
and  free  to  every  one,  so  far  as  I  can  see  by  any  printed  regulation, 
is  held  sacred  to  the  lady  passengers,  and  their  friends,  and  is 
scarcely  ever  intruded  upon  by  any  other.  The  more  quiet  and 
studious  men  occupy  the  tables  nearest ;  the  card  players  are  further 
forward,  and  those  who  drink  toddies  and  tell  stories  are  at  the 
forward  extremity.  If  the  Captain  went  through  the  boat  every 
evening  and  pointed  out  each  one's  place,  they  would  not  be  better 
arranged. 

We  were  sitting,  reading  and  conversing  on  general  trifles ;  a  sweet 
pretty  Irish  woman  was  exulting  in  the  hope  of  meeting  her  soldier 
husband  in  St.  Louis;  a  Kentucky  lawyer  was  carrying  on  a  desperate 
flirtation  with  the  bar-keeper's  wife,  a  plump  Bowery  beauty  with  a 
turn-up  nose  ;  I  was  making  studies  of  the  party,  and  comparing 
them  with  3Iiss  Elmore,  who  held  in  her  hand  a  volume  of  Tennyson, 
when  I  heard  angry  exclamations  from  the  other  end  of  the  boat. 
There  were  oaths,  a  movement,  and  then  a  sharp  pistol  shot.  I 
started  to  my  feet,  and  involuntarily  looked  round  to  where  Miss 
Elmore  was  sitting.  She  was  gone — she  was  half  way  up  the  cabin. 
I  followed  her  as  quickly  as  possible.  The  passengers  were  many 
of  them  pale ;  some  were  escaping  through  the  state  rooms ;  others 
were  gathering  about  two  men  who  were  clinched  in  what  seemed  a 
deadly  encounter.  One  was  armed  with  a  bowie-knife  and  the  other 
with  a  revolver.  One  shot  had  been  fired,  when  they  closed,  but 
in  such  a  way  that  neither  could  use  his  weapon.  But  the  man 
with  the  revolver,  a  powerful  man,  threw  ofi"  his  assailant  with  the 
bowie-knife,  and  raised  his  pistol  with  a  quick  but  deliberate  aim, 
when  Miss  Elmore  glided  between  them,  raised  his  hand  so  as  to 
make  the  shot  harmless,  and  at  the  same  time  holding  up  her  other 
hand,  awed  back  the  man  with  the  knife,  who  was  preparing  to 
spring  upon  his  antagonist.  The  Captain  was  just  in  time,  as  he 
rushed  into  the  cabin,  to  see  this  tableau.  But  there  was  no 
necessity  for  his  interference ;  and  Miss  Elmore,  by  a  look  or  sign, 
checked  his  advance. 

"  Gentlemen! "  she  said,  with  a  very  deliberate  emphasis — ''You 
surely  forget  that  you  are  in  the  presence  of  timid  women  !  " 


80  ESPERANZA. 


"  There  is  one  here,  brave  enough,"  said  the  pistol  man,  "and  1 
honor  courage  any  where." 

"  Then  you  should  honor  this  gentleman,"  said  she,  pointing  to 
his  opponent,  who  had  put  up  his  knife ;  "  for  he  has  no  lack  of  it. 
You  are  both  brave,  strong  men  ;  and  you  know  what  belongs  to 
gentlemen,  for  you  can  respect  a  woman.  Now,"  said  she,  with  a 
smile,  "  I  do  not  find  gentlemen  so  plentiful,  as  to  allow  them  to 
be  wasted.  If  there  is  any  wrong  between  you,  you  know  how  to 
right  it.  A  brave  man  can  atone  for  a  fault  as  well  as  avenge  an 
insult,  and,  under  the  circumstances,  and  considering  the  scarcity  of 
men  who  are  honorable  enough  to  do  both,  I  think  you  had  better 
do  the  handsome  thing." 

"  Madam  !  "  said  he  with  the  pistol,  "  I  will  do  any  thing  under 
God's  heavens  you  wish  me  to.  I  may  have  been  mistaken  about 
the  play,  and  wrong;  but  I  can't  take  the  lie  from  any  body." 

"  No  body  should  give  the  lie,"  said  she,  looking  at  the  other, 
with  her  clear,  calm  look,  "  where  a  mistake  is  possible." 

"  I  was  hasty,  Madam,  and  I  apologize,"  said  he,  with  a  quick 
frankness. 

"  f]nough  said,"  replied  the  other,  offering  his  hand.  "  I  was 
likely  as  not  wrong  about  the  play.  It's  no  consequence  any  how, 
but  as  I  had  my  shot,  I'll  stand  treat." 

"  And  you  will  play  no  more  to-night  ?  said  the  beautiful  peace 
maker. 

"  Not  a  deal ;  if  you  will  take  a  glass  of  champagne  with  us." 

The  glass  was  brought.  She  raised  it,  and  said,  "  gentlemen, 
you  always  mean  well,  but  you  sometimes  forget  yourselves.  I 
wish  you  better  memories  !  " 

The  toast  was  drunk,  and  applauded.  Miss  Elmore  had  just 
tasted  her  glass,  and  now  returned  with  me  to  the  ladies'  cabin. 

The  fainting  lad}'  had  so  far  recovered  as  to  be  in  a  comfortable 
fit  of  hysterics  ;  and  the  passengers  who  had  escaped  from  the  cabin 
came  back  in  time  to  get  a  glass  of  the  peace-ofi"eriDg. 

"  Are  those  men  gentlemen  ?  "  I  asked  Miss  Elmore,  when  I  got 
the  opportunity." 

"  Yes  and  no." 


ESPEUANZA.  81 


"  Does  the  question  admit  of  both  answers  ?  " 

"  Almost  every  one  does.  It  depends  on  what  you  understand 
by  the  term  gentleman.  These  men  are  brave,  frank,  generous,  sensi- 
tive, and  honorable,  as  they  understand  honor." 

"  But  they  seem  to  me  to  be  two  professional  gamblers." 

"  So  they  are  ;  but  why  not  gentlemen,  as  much  as  lawyers  who 
help  fraud  and  oppression  for  a  fee ;  preachers  who  teach  doctrines 
they  do  not  believe,  for  a  salary;  speculators  who  gamble  in  stocks 
and  staples;  financiers  who  loan  capital  to  usurers  and  swindlers, 
and  share  their  plunder;  soldiers  who  make  a  business  of  slaughter 
and  kill  according  to  orders  ?  Why  may  not  a  gambler,  who  stakes 
his  living  on  either  chance  or  skill,  be  as  good  a  gentleman  as 
these  ? " 

"  But  why  call  any  of  them  gentlemen  ?  " 

"  A  man  may  have  the  elements  of  a  gentlemanly  character,  and 
not  be  strong  enough  to  control  his  circumstances.  So  we  must  be 
charitable,  and  call  those  gentlemen  who  might  and  would  be,  if 
they  had  the  opportunity." 


The  scenery  of  the  Lower  Ohio  has  elements  of  beauty.  The 
foliage  is  of  great  richness ;  the  grass  of  a  deep  vivid  green ;  but  I 
miss  every  where  the  noble  back  ground  of  mountains,  lifting  their 
blue  summits  against  the  sky.  But  the  sun-sets  are  glorious.  At 
times  the  bluffs  on  the  river  side  are  high  and  picturesque.  The 
boats  we  meet  and  pass,  give  animation  to  the  voyage.  The  flat 
boats  loaded  with  coal,  or  lumber,  or  corn,  which  glide  down  with 
the  current,  have  their  interest.  Sometimes  you  see  a  corn  sheller 
at  work — sometimes  a  fiddle  is  playing.  Still  it  is  all  an  idle,  mo- 
notonous life  enough.  I  do'nt  know  what  we  should  do  without  our 
discussions,  which  seem  to  be  a  school  of  popular  education. 

The  parson  still  attacks  the  "  isms  of  the  day,"  but  upholds  his 
own  with  great  fervor.     He  is  a  great  advocate  of  total  abstinence. 

"  But  how  about  that  advice  of  your  friend  Paul,  to  "  take  a  little 
wine  for  the  stomach's  sake  ?  "  asked  an  objector. 


B2  ESPKEAXZA. 

"  Medicinally  ;  we  allow  it  to  be  prescribed  as  a  medicine,"  said 
the  preacher. 

"Oh!  then  Paul  was  a  doctor,"  said  a  Hoosier ;  "I  wonder 
where  he  got  his  diplomj  ?  " 

"  He  was  an  inspired  man,"  said  the  preacher,  "  and  knew  what 
was  right." 

"  Look  here  !  "  said  a  quiet,  slow  spoken  man,  with  a  twinkle  in 
his  eye;  "  St.  Paul,  we  are  told,  cured  a  great  many  people  of  their 
diseases  by  praying  for  theui,  laying  on  of  hand?,  and  even  by  their 
having  handkerchiefs  and  aprons  brought  to  them,  that  he  had 
touched.  Now,  I  should  like  to  inquire  why  he  did'nt  cure 
Timothy's  dyspepsia,  and  other  infirmities,  when  he  liked  him  so 
well,  instead  of  ordering  him  to  take  his  bitters,  and  setting  such  a 
bad  example  to  all  posterity  ?  " 

The  preacher  was  entirely  unprepared  for  this  question  ;  and  as 
he  stammered  and  hesitated,  the  free  thinking  crowd  did  not  restrain 
their  triumph  at  his  discomfiture. 

So  we  glide  along.  I  walk  on  the  upper  deck ;  or  stand  on  the 
bows ;  and  I  think  of  you  all  the  hours,  and  of  the  fast  increasing 
distance  that  separates  us;  then  I  think  it  is  the  same  sun  that 
shines  for  us  both  ;  the  same  bright  stars,  the  same  blue  sky  that 
bends  over  us,  and  the  same  Providence  that  enfolds  us. 


We  made  Cairo,  the  great  city  of  some  dim  future,  at  the  junction 
of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi,  late  in  the  night.  I  looked  out  but 
could  see  little  in  the  misty  moon-light.  Our  St.  Louis  and  up  river 
passengers  went  ashore  here.  The  rosy  little  Irish  woman,  whom 
every  body  was  in  love  with,  came  past  my  door,  as  I  stood  wrapped 
in  my  dressing  gown,  looking  out  upon  the  scene.  She  held  out  her 
hand  to  me. 

"  Good  bye,  you  little  darling,  God  bless  you,"  said  I,  with  more 
warmth  than  I  should  have  used,  had  I  ever  expected  to  see  her 
again. 

Her  reply  was  eloquent  and  characteristic.  She  said  never  a 
word,  bat  as  quick  as  a  thought,  or  the  impulse  of  a  loving  woman, 


ESPERANZA.  83 


held  up  her  pretty  lips  to  be  kissed.  And  I  kissed  her  as  I  would 
a  very  nice  fat  baby ;  and  she  ran  off  without  a  word  ;  but  turned, 
and  waved  her  handkerchief  to  me  and  the  rest,  as  she  went  up  the 
landing. 

In  the  morning  we  were  steaming  down  the  great,  turbid,  mighty, 
monotonous  Mississippi,  through  which  flow  the  currents  of  a  thou- 
sand rivers  to  the  distant  sea.  I  can  never  tell  you  of  its  melancholy 
grandeur. 

You  will  look  on  the  map  and  see  its  windings,  and  fancy  us 
steaming  down — down  those  long  reaches,  going  at  times  three 
hundred  miles  to  gain  one.  The  great,  impetuous  river,  filled  with 
the  energy  of  all  the  thousand  torrents,  of  which  its  life  is  made, 
goes  tearing  along  through  interminable  forests.  In  its  windings, 
it  washes  away  the  banks  on  one  shore,  uprooting  great  trees,  and 
filling  its  bed  with  snags  and  sawyers ;  while  a  vast  sand  bar  is  left 
on  the  other  side  to  be  covered  in  time  with  the  cane  brake  jungles, 
made  of  those  long,  slender,  jointed  reeds,  you  see  in  New  York 
sold  for  fishing  poles.  The  great  fields  of  these  are  of  a  beautiful 
light  green ;  but  the  sad  havoc  of  the  river  on  its  banks,  is  a  me- 
lancholy ravage.  And  such  sameness.  For  hours  and  days  the 
only  change  is  in  finding  the  perpendicular  wall  of  undermined  earth 
and  forest,  now  on  the  right  hand,  and  then  on  the  left,  as  the  river 
bends  to  the  west  or  the  east.  If  I  go  in  the  cabin,  and  stay  for 
hours,  when  I  come  back  it  is  the  same.  The  only  change  is  that 
the  foliage  indicates  a  more  southern  clime.  The  moss  hangs  pen- 
dant from  the  boughs  of  the  cypress,  and  on  the  shore  I  see  the  palm, 
whose  leaves  supply  us  with  fans  and  hats. 

I  have  promised  to  write  no  particulars  of  time  or  distance  below 
Cairo.  I  can  not,  therefore,  give  the  days ;  not  that  I  do  not  trust 
you,  but  for  fear  of  accidents. 

We  pass  the  hours  in  reading  poetry,  aloud ;  in  music,  when  we 
feel  musical ;  and  in  long  conversations,  of  which  I  can  give  but  a 
meager  record.  But  I  must  finish  one,  of  which  I  have  given  a 
part.  It  was  renewed  at  intervals,  for  my  fellow  voyager  is  sparing 
of  conversation,  and  leaves  me  much  time  for  reflection.  Every  day 
I  see  how  wisely  and  beautifully  she  has  taught  me. 


84  ESPERANZA. 


•'  You  began,"  said  I,  "  to  speak  of  these  '  isms,'  our  clerical  frii'iiJ 
is  so  fond  of  denouncing.      Will  you  tell  lue  further  about  tlniu  '!  " 

"  I  will  tell  you  all  you  can  hear,"  she  said.  "  He  spoke  bitti  ily 
of  this  question  of  Woman's  llights,  and  its  advocates.  Mary 
Wollstonecraft,  the  wife  of  Godwin,  and  the  mother  of  Mrs.  Slielli'y, 
was  a  beautiful  and  heroic  spirit,  not  very  wise.  Slie  loved  mu(  h 
and  suffered  much;  and  hud  an  instinct  for  freedom  and  a  true  life. 
Few  more  lovely  and  feminine  spirits  have  ever  lived.  She  reject  d 
the  popular  theology,  as  did  most  intellectual  persons  of  her  time. 
But  she  also  repudiated  marriage,  and  the  slavery  of  women.  When 
Thomas  Paine  wrote  his  Rights  of  Man,  she  applied  the  sam  ■  prin- 
ciples to  a  vindication  of  the  Rights  of  Woman. 

"  Frances  Wright  had  a  more  manly  spirit.  She  was  a  woman  of 
heroism  and  benevolence;  a  better  logician,  1  think,  but  less  insiuc- 
tive,  and  affectionate. 

"  The  estimable  ladies  who  attend  Woman's  Riglits  conventions 
are  doing  their  work  of  agitation,  from  various  motives.  The  love 
of  distinction,  the  hope  of  success,  the  consciousness  of  power,  and 
the  want  of  a  sphere  for  its  exercise,  have  their  share  as  motives. 
But  they  all  shrink  from  the  central  wrong  in  the  lot  of  woman — 
her  being  owned  and  appropriated  in  marriage." 

"  And  here,"  said  I,  "  you  come  to  the  Free  Love  doctrine,  I 
have  seen  so  much  discussion  about." 

"  Any  question  of  freedom  will  bear  discussion.  So  long  as  men 
live  in  the  isolate  dwellings,  and  discordant  selfishness,  of  the  society 
of  civilization — each  robber  in  his  den — woman  must  b^  appropi-i- 
ated,  and  owned;  and  custom  and  law  must  guard  this  own  r.ship, 
as  slave  laws  guard  the  ownership  of  slaves.  But  in  a  true  society, 
woman  can  be  free,  and  of  course  love  may  be  as  free  as  thought,  or 
belief." 

"  There  is  one  '  ism'  more — Spiritualism  ;  I  wish  to  know  more 
of  that,"  said  I,  at  our  next  conversation. 

"  What  do  you  know  already  ?  "  she  asked,  with  a  fine  lighting 
up  of  interest  in  her  expression. 

"  Very  little,  that  is  satisfactory.  I  have  read  of  the  phenomena, 
and  went  two  or  three  times  to  hear  the  raps.     The  communications 


ESPERANZA.  «5 


seemed  vague,  and  the  phenomena  of  doubtful  origin.  I  could  not 
see  the  use  of  it." 

"Do  you  believe  in  the  continuance  of  individual  consciousness, 
after  the  death  of  the  body  ?" 

"I  hope  it." 

''  Hope  in  the  possible  is  a  good  basis  of  belief.  Attractions  are 
proportional  to  destinies.  The  testimony  of  spiritual  phenomena  is 
abundant.  Immortality  is  as  possible  as  life.  I  have  as  good  evi- 
dence of  the  existence  of  spirit  friends,  and  intercourse  with  them, 
as  I  have  of  your  existence,  and  of  my  conversation  with  you.  It 
would  be  just  as  hard  to  disprove  one  as  the  other.  But  you  will 
probably  soon  have  better  opportunities  of  testing  this  for  yourself. 
Our  society  lives  in  open  and  constant  communion  with  a  spiritual 
society,  with  which  it  is  in  Harmony;  and  it  is  to  the  earth,  what 
that  society  is  to  the  heavens.  If  you  come  into  the  life  of  our 
Harmony,  you  will  find  spirit-friends,  and  spirit-loves  in  the 
heavenly  society.  We  will  not  argue  about  it  or  speak  of  it  more, 
now.     We  will  wait  and  see  what  is  for  you." 


On  and  on  ;  running  down  those  long,  interminable,  forest-lined 
curves  of  the  river,  swept  our  good  steamer,  night  and  day.  Some- 
times we  brushed  over  the  branches  of  a  tree,  whose  root  was 
anchored  in  the  bed  of  the  sti-eara. 

At  last,  one  bright  but  very  warm  afternoon,  I  saw  a  little  town 
in  the  distance  ;  and  laying  at  the  landing  a  beautiful  little  steam- 
biiat,  with  a  single  smoke-pipe.  Miss  Elmore  was  standing  on  the 
upper  deck,  forward,  by  my  side,  looking  through  a  pocket  spy- 
glass. She  held  out  a  white  handkerchief,  and  let  it  flutter  in  the 
wind.  In  a  moment  a  broad  white  flag,  with  a  golden  star,  made 
of  nine  other  stars,  rose  from  the  deck  of  the  little  boat ;  and  at  the 
same  moment  there  was  a  burst  of  blue  smoke ;  and  soon  came 
booming  up  the  river  the  roar  of  a  cannon. 

The  booming  echoes  had  scai-cely  returned  the  s'^und,  v.-hen  there 
burst  upon  the  air  a  peal  of  trimphant  music  such  as  I  never  heard 


86  ESPERANZA. 


before.  It  was  like  a  bugle,  but  many  times  louder,  coming  with  a 
power  and  sweetness  of  sound  which  enveloped  me  in  extacy.  It 
was  like  no  earthly  music,  but  seemed  poured  upon  us  from  the 
clear  blue  sky,  a  torrent  of  melody.  I  looked  round  in  surprise  to 
my  companion,  and  she,  delighted  at  my  astonishment,  pointed 
where  the  fairy  little  boat  was  throwing  off  a  jet  of  steam  ;  and  I 
saw  now  that  it  was  the  boat,  herself,  welcoming  her  expected 
passenger.  Instead  of  the  usual  shrieking  whistle,  she  was  provided 
with  a  full  harmonic  chord  of  musical  toues,  so  that  she  could  give 
bugle  signals  to  a  great  distance.  The  single  toues  were  wonderful; 
but  when  the  chords  were  given,  it  was  like  a  tornado  of  harni(uiy; 
grand,  overpowering,  indescribable.  It  was  like  musical  thunder, 
or  a  harmonized  Niagara.  Not  the  "  voice  of  many  waters,"  but 
the  voice  of  steam. 

Miss  Elmore  looked  up  to  the  wheel-house  and  nodded  at  the 
pilot;  and  said  to  me,  "  come,  my  friend,  our  voyage  here  is  ended." 

I  went  to  my  state-room  and  hastily  packed  my  things.  We  said 
good  bye  to  our  friends,  and  went  on  shore,  and  the  Effie  Afton 
plowed  on  her  way. 

I  finish  my  letter  at  the  little  Post-office  here,  and  kiiow  not  how 
soon  I  can  mail  another.  Good  bye,  my  dear  love.  Love  me  and 
trust  riie. 


VL 

THE    ARRIVAIi. 

Dear  Clara. — Each  day  of  absence  falls  with  an  added  weight 
upon  my  heart,  and  almost  every  day  has  increased  our  distance. 
You  are  so  far  away  !  I  cannot  forget  the  convexity  of  the  earth 
that  rolls  up  between  us,  nor  that,  when  I  look  at  the  sunset,  its 
last  light  had  faded  from  you  more  than  an  hour.  Nor  can  I  forget 
the  long  days  that,  even  with  the  most  rapid  modes  of  transit,  must 
elapse  before  this  letter  can  reach  you.  But  I  will  be  patient,  and 
trust  you  with  the  Providence  that  hath  guided  me  to  this  home  of 
our  Future,  as  I  now  believe  it  to  be. 

I  have  much  to  tell  you — so  much,  and  so  important,  that  I  can 
only  hope  to  tell  you  all  I  wish,  by  beginning  where  my  last  letter 
ended, — ^and  continuing  my  narrative,  as  if  I  were  writing  a 
history. 

The  little  Steamer  "Fairy,''  you  will  remember,  was  fired  up 
and  ready,  and  gave  us  a  musical  welcome.  7  deposited  my  letter 
in  the  post  office,  Avhich  occupied  a  small  coraer  of  the  bar-room 
of  the  tavern  and  grocery,  and  went  on  board.  Miss  Elmore  had 
gone  directly  from  the  Effie,  and  was  at  home  in  the  beautiful 
saloon,  where  I  found  her  seated,  with  a  boy,  five  years  old,  in  her 
lap,  and  two  young  girls  kneeling,  one  on  each  side  of  her. 

She  held  out  her  hand  to  me,  her  fece   radiant  with  some  srreat 

o 

joy,  and  introduced  me  first  to  the  boy  Vincent,  and  then  to  the 
two  girls,  one  a  petite  brunette  Laura,  the  other  a  fair  girl,  of  the 
medium  height,  with  blue  eyes  and  chestnut  hair,  named  Eugenia. 
"  You  will  soon  know  these  dear  ones,  who  have  come  to  wel- 
come us,"  said  she,  "and  now  I  must  introduce  myself.     In  the 

world  of  civilization,  I  am  Miss  Elmore,  or  whatever  name  is  con- 

87 


yB  EsPKRANZA. 

venient.     Here  and  in  our  home,  I  am  called  Melodia.     The  name 
will  sound  strange  at  first;  but  you  will  soon  grow  accustomed  to  ii." 

"And  this  young  gentleman,  Master  Vincent — is  he  the  sou  of 
the  fiiend  you  told  me  of?"  I  asked. 

A  strange,  bright  smile  came  over  her  face,  and  was  reflected  by 
the  two  younger  ladies.  Melo  lia  simply  nodded  assent,  but  made 
no  further  observation ;  while  the  handsome  boy,  Avho  had  been  so 
careful  not  to  interrupt  our  conversation,  now  began  a  series  of 
ingenious  questions  respecting  our  travels  and  adventures,  and 
before  they  were  half  answered  began  to  tell  his  own. 

I  went  on  deck  to  look  at  the  gem  of  a  boat.  With  no  misplaced 
finery,  she  is  the  perfection  of  every  thing  at  once  strong,  light, 
and  graceful  in  steamboat  architecture.  There  was  exact  order, 
neatness,  and  polish  every  where  ;  and  every  thing  about  her 
showed  how  use  can  be  joined  to  beauty.  The  pilot  house  is  a 
domed  octagon  lanthorn ;  her  high  chimney  is  as  graceful  as  a 
C'lumn  ;  the  arrangement  of  her  little  saloon  and  state  rooms  the 
perfection  of  convenience  and  elegance  ;  and  her  few  ornaments  of 
carved  shell  and  coral  work,  with  paintings  of  water  lilies  and 
other  aquatic  plants  and  animals.  Below,  a  compact  boiler  furnished 
steam  to  an  engine  worthy  to  propel  such  a  boat.  The  freight  was 
carefully  stored ;  every  thing  was  in  its  place,  and  when  the  Fairy, 
with  lier  starry  flag  flying,  rounded  out  upon  the  turbid  Mississippi, 
fired  her  parting  gun,  and  waked  the  echoes  miles  away  with  her 
triumphant  melodies,  I  felt  pioud  to  step  on  such  .^craft. 

But  I  must  not  forget  her  officers  and  crew.  There  were  but 
five,  besides  the  young  ladies  in  the  cabin,  and  the  boy  Vincent, 
who  was  every  where,  and  equally  interested  in  all  departments. 
As  soon  as  we  were  well  underway,  steaming  down  the  river.  Miss 
Elmore,  or  Melodia,  as  I  must  now  learn  to  call  her,  came  and 
walked  around  the  boat.  I  looked  in  vain  for  servant,  chamber- 
maid, or  any  common  boatman.  The  five  men  on  board  were 
dies^ed  nearly  alike,  in  light  caps,  blue  jackets,  and  duck  trowsers. 
There  was  no  captain  or  command.  Tliey  seemed  equally  capable 
of  taking  turns  in  the  pilot  house  or  ei  gine  room,  so  that  only  two 
were  on  duty  at  a  time,  leaving  the  other  three  at  liberty  to  rest. 


EbPERANZA.  89 

or  seep,  or  amuse  themselves.  They  changed  at  intervals  of  two 
hours  ;  and  tl;e  one  who  had  been  busy  with  the  fui'nace  and 
engine,  was  i  exi  walking  on  deck  with  one  of  the  ladies,  or  playing 
the  violin  with  a  guitar  accompaniment,  in  the  saloon.  We  «ere 
ten  i  '  all,  little  Vincent  included ;  and  I  had  never  seen  any  family 
where  1  felt  so  soon  and  so  happily  at  home.  Laura,  with  her 
spaikling  black  eyes,  glossy  hair,  and  piquant  n  z  retrousse,  ^old 
mt  ail  about  their  trip  to  New  Orleans  and  their  visit  to  the  French 
riicatre  ;  and  hen  sung,  I  am  su-e,  h^If  the  a  rs  of  ihe  opera,  while 
detailing  the  plot.  The  more  sedate  Eugenia,  whose  hair  was  all 
ringle  s  and  wild  flowers,  which  she  had  gathered  where  we  came 
on  board,  and  who  might  have  stood  for  a  Flora,  if  the  goddess  of 
flowers  had  ever  taken  passage  on  a  steamer,  asked  me  of  New 
Yovk,  where  she  had  once  lived,  and  knew  how  to  pity  all  who 
w^re  condemneJ  to  live  there,  she  said.  Her  frank,  confidino-, 
sis  eily  ways  made  me  acquainted  with  her  at  once  and  always. 

The  leading  spirit  of  the  group  of  young  men  who  united  in  the 
duties  of  navigating  this  boat,  is  Mr.  Alfred.  What  surname  he 
may  havi-  borne  formerly,  I  know  not  but  it  is  not  mentioned  here ; 
and  he  may  Lave  chosen  Alfred  or  accepied  it,  as  more  appropriate 
than  the  one  given  at  his  chrisening.  I  must  introduce  him,  for  I 
hope  you  may  become  better  a-quainted.  When  Melodia  brought 
me  to  him,  lie  looked  from  her  eyes  to  mine,  seemed  to  take  me  in 
a  a  glance,  and  held  out  his  hand  as  if  I  had  been  his  best  fiiend, 
leiurned  after  a  long  absence.  With  them  all  I  felt  as  if  I  had 
returned,  not  come.  When  I  asked  Melodia  of  this  she  said  that 
to  know  her — to  become  acquainteil  with  the  spirit  of  her  thought 
an    life,  made  me  also  acquainted  with  all  who  lived  the  same  life. 

Alfred,  a  man  of  perhaps  thirty  year-^,  strong,  manly,  vigorous, 
with  a  cle  r  grey  f-ye,  and  brown  beard,  is  the  impersonation  of 
em  igy.  He  impressed  me  as  a  man  who  would  infa'libly  accom- 
plish whatever  he  undertook,  and  be  able  to  command  all  men  and 
means  necessary  for  that  purpose.  I  felt  a  great  reliance  on  him; 
a  trust  that  could  not  be  shaken,  fur  integrity  was  the  expression 
of  his  life. 

I  saw  that  Melodia,  as  T  soon  learned  to  call  her,  leaned  upon 

S 


90  EsiKRANZA. 

hiiu  as  if  he  were  an  Atlas,  and  trusted  him,  as  one  trusts  an 
unfailing  spring. 

I  he  youngest  of  our  sailors,  except  little  Vincent,  was  Edgar,  a 
blue  eyed  son  of  mirth,  always  sparkling  with  good  humor  and 
merry  conceits.  But  I  must  not  prolong  these  introductions. 
We  have  a  little  voyage  before  us,  and  I  will  do  my  best  to  give 
you  a  good  account  of  it. 

An  hour  after  we  came  on  board  there  was  a  musical  signal  for 
supper,  which  we  found  served  up  in  the  little  saloon.  All  came 
but  the  pilot  and  engineer  for  the  time  being.  Melodia  took  ihe 
head  of  the  table  as  by  natural  right,  and  gave  me  a  seat  on  one 
side  while  Alfred  took  the  other.  The  pretty  Laura  sat  next  me, 
the  fair  Eugenia  oj^osite  ;  next  Eugenia  sat  Edgar,  and  next  Laura 
a  young  man  who  seemed  more  tho\ightful  and  poetical  than 
talkative  or  mirthful.  Little  Vincent  sat  at  the  foot  of  the  table; 
and  I  could  not  avoid  seeing  the  striking  resemblance  he  bore  to 
Melodia.     Such  was  our  group. 

The  table  was  set  with  a  delicate  repast  of  rice  and  southern 
hominy,  bananas  and  oranges,  with  guava  jelly,  and  lemonade 
reddened  with  claret;  add  some  light  warm  biscuits  and  fresh 
butter,  and  the  supper  was  complete. 

I  cannot  describe  the  geniality  of  tliis  group.  It  was  evident  at 
a  gla-  ce, — it  was  palpable  to  my  feeling  that  it  was  a  loving  group, 
full  of  ten  lerness  and  devotion.  There  was  not  one  there  who 
would  not  have  died  for  Melodia,  no  one  who  was  not  devoted  to 
Alfred.  Stranger  as  I  was,  just  escaping  from  the  discords  of 
civilization,  I  could  not  but  feel  the  beauty  of  this  harmony  of  a 
purer  life. 

I  could  not  but  see  how  quietly  and  beautifully  it  had  arranged 
itself.  I  Avould  not  liave  been  any  where  but  where  I  wa<  ;  ihe 
two  persons  most  attractive  to  me  on  either  side  ;  and  it  was  the 
same,  I  think,  with  every  person  there 

The  supper  was  eaten  with  a  delicate  deliberation,  hut  also  with 
great  enjoyment.  Little  Vincent  sent  his  plate  for  a  second 
portion  of  guava,  remarking  that  the  sea  air  always  gave  him 
a  famous  appetite.     He  also  made  a  brave  attack  on  the  bananas. 


EsrEUANiiA.  91 

The  conversation  at  table  was  marked  by  as  much  propriety,  as 
geniality  of  feeling.  A  rough  jest;  a  rude  remark;  any  boister 
ousness  would  have  been  discordant.  The  tones  were  low  and 
sweet,  and  even  the  humor  of  Mr.  Edgar  was  toned  to  the  precise 
kvy  of  tlie  ciicle.  In  the  general  conversation  there  were  occa- 
sional duels  ;  and  I  could  not  but  remark  the  delicate  tact,  which 
yet  seemed  unconscious  and  habitual,  with  which  Laura  addressed 
some  sprightly  remark  to  me,  when  Melodia  was  listening  to  some 
matter  of  home  interest  from  Alfred  ;  or  with  which  Eugenia  asked 
a  qiiescion  of  him,  when  she  turned  to  me.  It  was  the  same  with 
the  others  ;  a  fitness  and  adaptation,  which  seemed  perfect;  yet  I 
fe  t  assured  that  no  one  had  planned  it;  but  that  the  group  had 
formed  itself  in  the  most  spontaneous  manner. 

Long  before  we  rose  from  the  table,  Edgar  went  and  relieved  the 
engineer,  while  Laura's  friend  took  his  place  at  the  wheel :  and  yet 
this  change  did  not  mar  the  harmony.  They  seemed  just  as  well 
adapted  to  their  places  as  the  others:  two  genial,  cultured,  well 
mannered  young  men,  proud  of  their  duties,  and  happy  in  their 
society.  Master  Vincent  pitied  them  for  having  waited  so  long,  and 
urged  upon  them  all  the  dainties  of  the  tnble  as  a  compensation. 

After  our  little  supper,  to  which  the  pilot  added  the  music  of  his 
steam  organ,  which,  controlled  by  the  valve,  was  capable  of  soft 
as  well  as  loud  tones,  and  wondrous  modulations,  we  all  went  upon 
the  promenade  deck,  when  I  saw  that  we  were  no  longer  plowinor 
down  the  broad  Mississippi,  but  were  stemming  the  current  of  a 
much  narrower  stream  —  one  of  its  western  tributaries.  The 
country  was  low,  the  scenery  melancholy,  with  the  cypress  forests, 
and  pendant  mosses;  but  away  in  the  northwest  I  saw  the  outline 
of  hills  in  the  distance  ;  and  the  steam  organ  pealed  out  the  familiar 
music  of  "Home,  Sweet  Home,"  and  all  turned  their  eyes  in  one 
dire;'tion  with  looks  of  love  and  joy;  and  as  we  stood  in  a  group, 
forward,  near  the  pilot  house,  the  voices  joined  in  a  perjfect  harmony, 
accompanied  by  the  softened  organ  notes,  in  singing  the  dear  old 
song,  the  full,  clear  tenor  of  the  pilot  joining  with  the  rich,  mellow 
bass  of  Edgar,  who  was  playing  engineer  below,  while  the  fine 
baritone  of  Alfred  harmonized  lovingly  with  the  noble  soprano  of 


9:^  EiiPEiiAXZA 

Melodia.  The  scene,  the  circumstances,  not  less  than  the  perfect 
hai'mony  and  feeling  of  the  music  affected  me  to  teare.  I  tried  to 
join  in  the  song,  but  my  throat  swelled,  and  I  sank  upon  a  stool 
and  gave  free  vent  to  my  emotions. 

When  the  song  was  ended,  the  pilot  turned  on  a  full  head  of 
steam,  and  roused  us  from  these  soft  memories,  with  the  grand 
song  of  Liberia,   from  I  Puritani.     You  may  judge  how  grand  iib 
effect  must  be,  so  given.     It  was  as  if  the  Heavens  were  singing  t 
the  I'larth  a  song  of  Freedom. 

Then  we  had  more  music :  beautiful  songs,  and  duets,  and 
choruses,  while  the  shades  of  evening  were  descending.  Old 
songs  linking  us  to  the  past,  with  many  sad  or  pleasing  memories : 
and  new  songs,  carrying  me  into  the  spirit  of  the  future,  with 
which  1  had  now  begun  to  make  acquaintanceship,  and  which, 
until  now,  has  always  seemed  so  distant. 

As  the  sun  sunk  in  the  west,  the  full  moon  rose  and  silvered  the 
waters  in  our  wake,  playing  upon  the  broad  lily  leaves  of  the  river 
margin,  and  the  backs  of  the  sleeping  alligators.  Our  little  Fairy 
glided  along  noiselessly,  all  but  the  murmur  of  parting  waters, 
and  the  cascade-like  sound  of  the  swift  revolving  wheels.  And 
now  a  mist  rose  from  the  waters  and  obscured  the  banks ;  and  the 
moon  was  veiled  in  the  fogs  below.  The  channel  was  too  narrow 
and  difficult  to  go  on  in  darkness ;  so  the  pilot  sought  an  eddy  in 
the  stream ;  a  small  anchor  was  dropped,  the  furnace  damped, 
steam  blown  off,  and  we  lay  by  for  the  night. 

I  sat  by  Melodia.  She  held  my  hand  silently  in  both  of  hers, 
as  if  she  vvould  feel  out  my  emotions  ;  then  said :  "  We  near  our 
journey's  end,  my  brother ;  to-morrow  will  take  us  to  our  home. 
You  see  here  a  little  group  of  our  family.  How  do  they  seem 
to  you?" 

"  As  if  I  had  nlways  known  them." 

"That  is  well.  It  is  the  home  feeling.  Where  a  true  affiniiv 
exists,  and  we  recognize  our  own,  nothing  is  strange  to  us.  We 
seem  to  have  found  those  for  whom  we  were  seeking,  and  from 
whom  we  have  been  only  for  a  little  while  separated." 

"It  was  my  feeling."  I  said,  "when  I  found  yon."     She  smiled 


J:i'bi•I;KA^ZA.  93 

a  quiet  smile,  which  said  as  plainly  as  words  could,  "And  "^ 
also?" 

"But  this  is  not  all,''  I  continued,  "1  must  confess  that  I  have 
no  claim  upon  you, and  no  possible  right  to  feci  as  I  do:  and  yet  I 
am  disturbed,  and  almost  jealous.  1  perceive  all  the  merit  of  this 
brave,  manly,  energetic,  handsoene  Alfred:  it  seems  quite  natural 
!  ikI  you  should  love  him.  It  is  evident  that  he  has  gone  on  this 
t-xpedidon,  and  taken  charge  of  this  boat,  and  the  business  of  the 
voyage,  expressly  to  be  with  you  a  few  hours  sooner.  Still  I  am 
t:o!.bled.  I  find  my  heart  growing  heavy  and  bitter,  when  I 
seem  to  have  less  of  your  society  and  sympathy  than  when  we 
Wfie  alone. 

"  You  do  well  to  be  frank,  my  friend;"  she  replied,  "though  I 
do  not  need  the  revelation.  I  knew  it,  and  had  foreseen  it.  The 
liabi  s  of  a  very  selHsli  civilization  cling  to  you.  Its  thoughts 
and  feelings  are  in  your  life,  like  the  taint  of  disease,  or  the  poison 
of  malaria.  You  must  become  clear  and  free  from  all  this.  We 
seek  only  true  relations ;  we  earnestly  wish  to  avoid  all  false  ones. 
This  is  our  freedom  and  our  happiness." 

"But  to  know  the  true." 

"The  test  of  a  true  relation,  is  the  unmixed  happiness  it  gives  to 
all  who  are  truly  related.  The  sentiment  I  have  for  Alfred  is 
painful  to  you,  either  because  it  is  false  in  itself,  or  because  it  meets 
some  element  of  falsehood  in  you.      \\  hich  do  you  think  it?" 

"  I  know  it  is  my  ov.^n  selfishness,"  I  replied.  "Forgive  me. 
It  is  absurd  and  ungrateful,  and  I  will  overcome  it." 

Just  now,  Alfred  himself  came  aft  and  jomed  us.  Holding  me 
by  one  l:and,  Melodia  extended  to  him  the  other,  and  drew  him  to 
her  side  :  "Here,  Alfred,"  said  she,  with  sweetness,  "is  a  young 
gentleman,  who  pays  you  the  compliment  to  be  jealous  of  you." 

Alfred  laughed  heartily,  and  grasped  my  hand  as  heartily, 
exclaiming:  "Well,  Mr.  Wilson,  which  do  you  think  has  most 
Ciuse  to  be  jealous,  you  or  I  ?  You  have  been  journeying  together 
all  tlie  way  from  New  York  ;  spending  one  day  amid  the  romance 
of  Niag '.ra ;  another  in  a  pilgrimage  to  Buflfalo ;  sailing  on  Lake 
pjrie  ;   spending  Sunday  at  Cincinnati ;  and  then   steaming,   with 


9  1  Et^PERANZA. 

abundance  of  solitude  to  sweeten  as  best  you  could,  down  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi.  Now,  I  ask  you,  as  a  sensible  young  gentleman, 
am  not  I  the  one  to  be  jealous,  and  call  you  out,  and  insist  upon 
walking  on  shore  with  you  with  a  case  of  pistols,  at  daylight?" 

I  could  not  but  laugh  at  the  absurdity  of  my  position. 

"But  instead  of  that,"  said  he,  with  the  most  perfect  frankness 
in  his  tone  and  manner,  "  1  have  to  thank  you  for  every  kind  word, 
and  every  affectionate  thought  you  have  had  for  her.  My  love  is 
only  equalled  by  my  trust  " 

"This  is  the  perfect  love,  that  casteth  out  fear,"  said  Melodia, 
softly ;  and  when  she  gently  pressed  my  hand,  I  knew  that  she 
also  pressed  the  other,  and  far  more  fondly,  and  yet  I  felt  in  my 
lieart  such  a  confidence  in  the  entire  nobleness  of  both,  that  all 
bitterness  went  from  me.  Had  we  been  two  brothers,  with  our 
loved  sister  between  us,  we  could  not  have  been  more  at  peace. 

The  pleasing  reverie  in  which  we  sat  was  broken  by  the  light 
roll  of  a  drum  ;  and  the  next  moment  we  were  greeted  by  the  music 
of  a  band,  playing  exquisitely  on  four  saxe  horns,  with  the  drum 
most  delicately  beaten  by  my  little  friend  Laura,  who  seemed  to 
throw  into  it  all  the  charm  of  her  lively  manners, — and  a  silver 
triangle,  skilfully  handled  by  Eugenia.  It  was  a  new  surprise. 
They  play  as  well  as  the  Dodworths,  in  the  perfect  chiming  har- 
mony of  family  music,  but  with  a  more  pure  and  tender  feeling  — 
with  a  more  loving  unity  than  I  had  ever  heard.     I  sat  entranced. 

But  the  mists  creeping  out  from  the  shore,  and  enveloping  us, 
warned  us  to  retire  to  the  little  saloon,  where  Melodia  sang  to  us, 
accompanying  herself  on  the  pianoforte.  Alfred  leaned  over  her  to 
turn  the  music,  and  sometimes  joined  his  voice  to  hers. 

"  You  love  music,"  she  said,  when  she  rose  from  the  instrument, 
and  came  where  I  was  sitting.  "  There  is  much  pleasure  in  store 
for  you.  It  is  the  pprpetxial  aspiration  for  harmony  in  the  woi'ld 
you  have  left,  and  the  perpetual  expression  of  it  in  that  to  which 
you  are  going." 

"  To  which  I  have  come,"  I  said. 

"  Our  group  here,  is  but  a  little  fragment ;  but  a  very  happy 
one.  To-morrow  night  we  shall  all  be  happier.  Now,  good  night  1" 


E.-.PKKAXZA.  '  95 

she  said,  stooping  to  press  a  pure  kiss  upon  my  forehead  ;  "  good 
night,  all  my  dear  ones  ;  "  and  she  gave  a  hand  to  each,  and  each 
cue  kissed  the  foir  hand  reverently. 

The  little  Vincent  had  become  so  tired,  helping  to  work  the  boat, 
that  he  had  been  asleep  in  his  berth  hours  before.  Melodia  went 
and  kissed  his  little  rose  bud  lips  ;  and  charging  Laura  to  show  me 
my  state-room,  passed  to  her  own. 

They  all  retired  but  one,  who  took  his  lamp  and  a  book,  to  keep 
wa  ch  in  the  pilot  house.  Laura  sat  on  a  cushion  at  my  feet. 
Though  fa.igued  with  the  emotions  of  the  evening,  I  was  far  from 
being  sleepy.  I  sat,  thinking  of  you,  who  are  never  out  of  my 
tlioughts  whose  image  ever  lives  in  my  deep  heart ;  and  still, 
darling  one,  I  so  ftlt  the  sphere  of  affection  around  me,  and  was  so 
softened  in  its  influence,  that  my  great  love  for  you  seemed  only 
to  open  my  heart  to  other  sentiments,  tender  and  beautiful ;  but 
whether  of  the  same  kind,  I  confess  myself  at  a  loss  to  determine. 

And  as  I  mused  on  this,  thinking  of  my  distant  home  with  you, 
and  of  this  near  home,  to  which  I  feel  myself  so  lovingly  welcomed, 
Laura  was  looking  up  into  my  face,  with  her  dark  eyes,  as  if  she 
would  read  my  soul.  There  was  tenderness,  sympathy  and 
curiosity  in  her  looks.  I  stooped  toward  her,  and  she  put  up  her 
hand,  and  pushed  back  my  hair  from  my  forehead,  as  if  she  could 
better  read  my  thoughts.  Her  round,  plump  arms  were  bare  to 
the  shoulder;  her  dress  of  perfect  neatness,  so  appropriate  to  the 
voyage  that  I  had  not  noticed  it,  made  modest  r(  velation  of  a 
b'\autiful  bust.  She  seemed  very  charming.  Her  manner  was  so 
sisterly  and  confiding,  that  I  offered  her  a  kiss.  It  was  nc 
pas-::onate  impulse,  but  the  expressi'>n  of  a  brotherly  regard. 
She  drew  back  gently,  gravely  shook  her  head,  and  said  : 

"  No,  my  friend,  you  must  not  be  in  haste,  and  you  must  make 
no  mi  tnkcs.  We  do  not  kiss  idly  or  profanely.  A  week  hence 
you  will  know  bettor  whom  you  have  a  right  to  kiss.  It  may  be 
me ;  but  I  think  not.  At  least,  I  must  be  sure,  first,  that  you  will 
not  repent  it.'' 

"Do  you  think  th-it  possible?" 

"With  you?  yes.     Not  often  with  us." 


96  ESPERANZA. 

'•But  imagine  me  your  brother." 

'•Were  you  a  iliousand  times  my  brother,  I  should  not  kiss  you 
if  I  diJ  not  love  you  ;  and  if  1  loved  you,  I  should  kis  you  all  ihe 
same." 

'  Are  you  sure  you  do  not  ?  " 

•'No:  I  !  ave  been  feeling  you.  You  are  too  mixed.  You  do 
!  ot  recognii?"  your  own  emotions.  You  are  liable  to  makf  mistakes. 
Ynu  are  selfish.     You  must  wait.      Come,  sleep  and  dream  of  me." 

iShe  took  my  hand  and  led  me  to  such  a  cosy  little  state-room, 
with  a  nice  bed  in  ii — not  a  berth — with  a  lace  musquito  bar, 
and  ev>'rything  in  the  neatest  order ;  and  bidding  me  a  cheerful 
'•o-ood  nio-ht,"  went  to  her  rest. 

n  the  early  dawn,  a  southerly  breeze  dissipated  the  fog,  and  the 
Faiiy  was  under  way  long  before  sunrise.  Our  group  assembled 
on  the  promenade  deck,  to  greet  each  other,  and  the  world's 
illumination  A  1  nature  was  rejoicing  in  the  opening  day.  If  a 
tender  and  pensive  thought  of  you,  so  distant  and  so  dear,  made  me 
less  cheerful,  the  rest  were  happy  in  the  hope  of  seeing  those  they 
loved  in  a  few  hours.  As  we  stood  aft,  in  an  interlocked  group, 
wa  ching  the  changing  sky  of  the  dawn,  and  the  first  ray  of  sun- 
light shot  across  the  scene,  our  grand  organ  pt  aled  out  a  song  of 
welcome  to  the  sun,  as  sublime  as  his  upiising;  and  after  the 
prelude,  our  voices  joined  in  singing  a  glorious  morning  hymn  — 
religious  in  the  deepest  sens  ■,  and  yet  in  harmony  with  all  around 
us,  so  ilat  it  seemed  to  combine  the  songs  of  birds,  the  lowing  of 
herds,  and  aM  the  music  of  nature. 

'I  hen  all  went  joyfully  to  their  duties,  all  but  Melodia,  Alfred 
and  m  ,  who  remained  on  deck,  to  watch  the  growing  splendors  of 
the  scene.  We  were  passing  through  a  broad,  lake-Lke  opening  of 
the  river ;  water  fowl  were  flying  over  it ;  birds  were  caroling  on 
the  shore,  and  beyond  the  fringe  of  trees,  we  saw  the  smoke  of 
distant  plantations. 

Alfred  and  Melodia  wore  the  aspect  of  serene  happiness ;  bu' 
there  was  a  perceptible  difference.  He  seemed  to  be  in  possession 
of  what  he  most  valued  and  desired,  and  to  be  supremely  blessed: 
while  she   looked  forward   wih   a  joyful  hope  to  a  still  greater 


ESPERANZA.  97 

happiness.  I  watched  well  the  countenances  of  both.  It  was 
evident  that  she  was  to  him  the  "bright  particular  star"  that 
centered  his  fondest  aspirations;  but,  while  it  was  apparent  that 
she  also  loved  him,  with  a  fond  trust  and  tender  reliance,  I  knew 
well  that  she  loved  another  with  a  still  deeper  devotion  —  that  while 
she  was  a  sun  to  him,  her  soul  revolved  around  another  center  of 
loving  life. 

And  yet,  dear  Clara,  I  could  see,  and  I  could  feel,  no  jar  —  no 
discordance.  We  have  seen  such  things,  in  our  world,  causes  of 
SI  rife  and  misery.  Here  all  these  attractions  seem  accepted, 
harmonized,  and  a  means  of  increased  happiness.  I  have  been 
absurdly  selfish  ;  I  have  felt  even  the  pangs  of  jealousy  toward  Mr. 
Vincent  and  Alfred,  but  I  feel  them  no  longer.  They  are 
unworthy  of  that  great  true  soul,  whom  I  both  reverence  and 
love.  I  have  said  it,  0  my  Clara !  May  you  so  enter  into  the 
harmony  of  this  love-life,  as  to  be  able  to  accept  with  me  this 
reverential  love,  which  I  feel  ennobles  me,  and  makes  me  more 
worth  V  to  be  yours. 

After  a  little  Melodia  went  below,  to  kiss  the  slufnber  from  the 
eyelids  of  the  litle  Vincent,  and  prepare  him  for  breakfast.  Alfred 
;ook  my  arm,  and  we  walked  the  deck  together. 

"You  feel  your  welcome,  I  tru-t,  Mr.  Wilson,"  said  he,  when 
we  had  t;iken  a  turn  in  silence.  "  Your  love  for  Melodia  makes 
you  a  brother  to  me,  if  you  can  accept  such  a  relation.  This  is  the 
spirit  of  Harmony — th^t  of  the  discordant  society  we  have  lefil; 
wouhl  make  us  vengeful  foes." 

"  It  is  new  to  me,"  I  replied,  "but  very  real.  I  am  at  peace. 
I  fed  the  love-life  of  this  little  group  circulating  around  me.  I 
see  how  it  is  all  combined,  knit  together,  and  harmonized  by  these 
interlacing  attractions." 

"  You  see  well,"  said  Alfred,  smiling  ;  "you  will  soon  see  more. 
The  same  harmony  of  a  sweet  passi  n^l  lif^'  pervades  all  the  groups 
of  our  society.  The  same  loves  are  every  where  a  bond  of  unity 
instead  of  a  source  of  discord,  because  every  one  is  free,  and  we 
hold  no  property,  either  in  the  bodies  or  souls  of  men  or  women." 

I  have  thought  much  of  this  expression,  Clara.     No  property  in 


9B  ESPERANZA. 

bo  ly  or  soul.  I  fiar  that  I  have  very  selfishly  hell  you  as  my 
property.  bo;iy  and  soul — but  I  can  do  so  no  more.  You  must  be 
your  own  ;  anJ  what  of  yon,  or  the  expression  nf  your  life,  is  truly 
mine,  mu-;t  flow  freely  fo  me,  wi  hout  clu  cli  <»r  claim,  or  bond  or 
chain.  The  immortal  loves  must  be  free  as  the  immortals;  not 
the  helots  an  i  slaves  of  civiliza;ion.  I  see  so  (d  ady,  now,  in  he 
lig'it  of  my  recent  expetience,  and  in  contrastini^  the  sphere  of  th  s 
life  ofharmonv.on  which  I  am  entei'ing.  w  th  the  selfishness  of  our 
rapacious  .^ocial  dissonance,  that  P^-eedom  is  the  condition  of  Order, 
aad  Harmony,  and  Happiness. 

When  I  said  this  to  Alfi-ed,  he  took  my  hand,  and  pressing  it 
warmly,  said  : — "  My  brother,  I  claim  the  riglit  to  weLome  you 
to  our  family  and  home.  You  are  mos'.  nearly  relaed  to  me, 
bi'cause  you  love  the  one  I  most  love  on  the  earth.  Tliis  is  a  bond 
of  true  fellowship,  and  I  shall  claim  the  right  to  serve  you  every 
way  in  my  power,  while  you  remain,  and  to  see  to  the  preparation 
for  your  joining  us  in  tl  e  future." 

As  I  accepted  this  frank  proffer  of  friendship,  the  s'gnal  for 
breakfast  was  given,  and  we  descended  to  the  saloon,  wlieie  we 
found  an  excellent  repast,  prepared  by  the  skillful  1  ands  of  the 
spr  ghtly  Laura,  and  the  calm  and  beautiful  Eugenia,  who 
welcomed  us  to  their  hospitable  an  I  elegant  board,  for  such  it 
truly  was.  containing  a  meal  of  various  edibles,  all  harmonizing 
to  the  taste,  and  presenting  the  best  materials  for  nu'rition.  The 
orange  and  banana,  of  which  there  was  a  large  sore  on  board,  were 
fresh  from  the  New  Orleans  market ;  the  ripe  figs  from  tl  e  SHme 
place  were  delicious  ;  the  cream  was  preserved  in  the  ice  house,  in 
the  hold. 

We  saf  as  at  the  evening  meal,  only  that  Laura  and  Eugenia  1  ad 
changed  places.  Vincent  slill  felt  the  influence  of  the  j^ea  air  on 
his  Hppetite,  but  wis  also  very  happy  in  the  prospect  of  joining  his 
pl-!ymates,  and  giving  them  a  circumstantial  narrative  of  the  ad- 
ventures of  his  voyage. 

But  1  shall  make  this  letter  too  long,  even  for  one  of  mine,  if  I 
wri  e  every  circumstance  and  conversation  of  this  qnii  t,  but  not 
ujQuventful  diiy.     1  wandered  over  our  little  craft,  admiring  every 


ESPERANZA.  $9 

porlion  of  it.  Ic  seemed  every  where  a  labor  of  love.  Ti  e  caiviiigs: 
;ire  ex;[uisiLe.  The  paiutinys  were  done  with  a  woiiJeifi.l  per- 
fection of  d.  sail,  whirh  never  could  have  come  from  merceiieiy 
labur.  It  was  evident  that  the  artist^  had  loved  the  ixiai,  and  had 
done  their  best  to  beautify  ;ind  aJorn  it.  And  it  was  the  same 
with  tlie  tiuish  of  every  part.  Ii  hai  a  cheerfi.l  and  haimoniz.ng- 
sphere,  and  might  well  ••  walk  the  waters  like  a  thing  of  life,"  foi 
ii  seemed  permeated  with  vi.ality. 

"  .sn't  she  a  beaiuy  ?"  said  Melodia,  as  I  s  ood  admiiing  her, 
and  the  ease  w  ih  which  she  glided  over  the  wa.er. 

"  s>he  seems  tit  to  bear  you  and  yours,"  said  1. 

"Sue  was  built  for  and  by  us  and  ours,  i  duubt  if  there  is  one 
of  all  our  family,  old  enougli  to  do  any  thing,  who  has  not  done 
some  work  on  our  Fairy.  80  she  is  a  pet,  and  we  all  love  ner  like 
a  livintj  thiny^, 

•'   aid  what  did  you  do?"   I  asked. 

She  led  me  to  one  of  tl.e  most  beautiful  paintings  ;  a  clusler  of 
marine  planis,  with  two  fishes  lying  in  the  clear  water  under  them 
in  heir  shadow,  lookii-g  so  alive  and  real,  tiiat  you  stood  still  for 
fear  il.ey  would  be  fiightened,  and  dash  away. 

"This  is  mine  ;  and  I  helped  to  arrange  the  upholstery  of  the 
siloun,  and  contributed  the  pianoforte,  because  I  had  two,  and  this 
WHS  jus:  large  enough.  Alfre  1  modeled  and  helped  build  the  hull, 
au.l  wood  work.  Mr.  Vincent  planned  the  engine,  and  every  one 
was  I  midous  to  do  some  thing  for  our  lit  le  Fairy,  h  is  so  of  all 
our  work,  as  you  will  see." 

Laura  shoAved  me  the  little  model  kitchen  on  the  boiler  deck, 
with  sream  pipes  from  the  boiler,  for  heating  water  and  cooking. 
It  comnmnicated  with  a  little  s  ore-room  and  ice-house,  in  the 
i.olJ.  'I'he  wa  er  was  carefully  filtered  into  the  most  tran-lucent 
I'Uri  y  ;  and  so,  on  the  whole  craft,  everything  was  in  the  most 
or  lerly  pe  fee  ion. 

As  we  ascended  the  river  the  navigation  became  more  difficul  , 
but  our  boa'  wa-<  of  Ight  draught,  and  abundant  power,  so  hat 
she  went  over  the  hai's  handsomtly ;  or  if  she  ever  stuck  fast, 
her   reversed,  wheels   took  her  off  in  a   moment,  and   she   tried 


100  ESPERANZA. 

again.  With  conversation,  music,  anil  a  restful  life,  the  day 
glidetl  on. 

Advancing  westward,  the  country  became  rolling,  and  in  parts 
broken,  wi.h  romantic  glens,  and  bold  bluffs  on  tlie  river.  We 
were  appro  cliing  the  hills  we  had  seen  in  the  blue  distance.  The 
eyes  of  the  loving  friends  around  me  were  bent  upon  them  with 
looks  of  joyful  hope.  I  had  never  seen  Mtlodia  so  lovely  as  this 
day.  Soft  fires  were  burning  in  her  eyes,  which  some  imes 
brimmr^d  wih  tears ;  her  cheeks  were  fluslied,  and  her  voice 
deepened  to  a  tenderer  melody.  The  Fairy  boat  glided  on,  up  ihe 
windings  of  the  stream,  which  every  hour  displayed  new  beauties. 

Our  dinner  was  trore  pensive  than  joyous.  But  it  was  easy  to 
see  how  happy  were  all,  in  tlie  hope  of  soon  reaching  the  home, 
which  was  so  linked  to  the  deepest  life  of  all.  All  but  me ;  to 
whom  it  was  a  new  world,  to  which  I  was  then  a  stranger  — 
stranger  to  its  localities,  almost  to  its  life  ;  but  not  quite  ;  for  had 
I  not  lived  in  the  sphere  of  one  of  its  most  potent  influences,  and 
was  I  not  then  the  friend  and  brother,  and  welcome  guest  of  a 
group  of  its  noble  spirits? 

Tl  erefore  I  did  not  falter,  but  hoped  like  the  rest.  I  s  udied 
Alfred.  It  seemed  to  me,  at  first,  that  he  would  not  be  in  haste  to 
convey  Melodia  in  o  tl.e  pnsence  of  an  attraction  deeper  tl  an  his 
own.  But  I  saw  no  evidence  of  any  selfish  desire  to  keep  her  with 
h'mself.  He  seemed  to  sympathise  cordially  with  every  hope  and 
w'sh  of  liers. 

At  last,  as  we  were  walking  togetlier  under  the  awning,  after  he 
1  a  1  been  at  the  Aviieel  two  hoi;rs,  througli  some  difficidt  navigation, 
I  sa  d  to  him  : 

"  My  flit  nd,  will  you  allow  me  to  tell  you  my  thoughts  ?" 

"Whyno  ?" 

"  We  are  approaching  Espeianzn." 

Tl  e  joy-light  spread  over  his  handsome,  energetic  face,  and  ho 
:^ rasped  my  arm  more  tigh  ly. 

"  You  carry  thither  her  you  adore,  where  there  are  those  whom 
^lie  loves  as  mucli  as  slie  loA'es  you." 

'  Well !"  he  said,  with  a  still  deepening  joyfulness. 


ESPERANZA.  101 

'•  Have  you  no  dtsiie  to  keep  her  a  little  longer?" 

He  looked  at  me  a  surprised  moment;  then  with  a  quiet  smilt-, 
answered  : 

"  Wherever  Melodia  is,  all  she  has  for  me  is  mine  ;  and  were  she 
with  me  alone,  banished  from  all  humanity,  she  could  give  me  no 
more  than  what  belongs  to  me.  My  place  in  her  heart  is  sacred 
to  me.  It  is  a  true  love,  tl  at  no  true  thing  can  destroy.  I  wish, 
more  tlian  every  thing  her  happiness ;  and  if  I  secure  it,  by 
carrying  her  as  soon  as  pus.sible  to  the  arms  of  him  she  loves  as  1 
love  her,  have  1  not  my  reward  ?  There  are  other  loves  for  me, 
as  for  her.  Our  liv  s  are  too  rich  for  the  jealou  ies  and  mean- 
nesses of  passional  starvation.  Be  patient,  and  you  will  see  how, 
in  he  harmony  of  h  true  life,  the  good  of  each  one  is  the  good 
of  all,  and  the  general  welfare  consists  in  the  happiness  of  each 
individual.  The  wurld  of  sacrifices  is  the  old  woild  we  are 
leaving  behind  us." 

I  foul  not  doubt  his  sinceritv  ;  but  how  nobly  unselfish  is  this 
love  !  0  mv  Clara,  does  it  come  to  your  heart  as  lo  mme?  Can 
vou  acc«  pt,  for  this  earth,  a  life  that  has  seemed  to  us  fit  only  for 
the  angels  of  heaven  ? 

The  sun  was  decending  toward  the  west,  and  we  pursuing  his 
flight,  and  nearing  the  range  of  highlands.  There  was  wi:h  all 
our  group  the  excitement  of  expectation  added  to  the  calm  joy  of  a 
return  to  a  home,  where  friendship  nnd  love,  and  all  endtariiig  ties 
were  centered.  It  wa-  an  hour  before  sunset,  when  the  Fairy 
turned  suiienlv  fnd  shot  int^o  a  nan'ow  branch  of  the  river  we  were 
a-criidino-.  The  banks  were  close  wooded,  and  there  was  scarcely 
room  for  our  smoke  pipe  between  the  over  arching  trees  One 
might  pass  the  place  easily  without  suspecting  a  navigable 
pa  sap"'^.  But  a  few  rods  further  up,  the  creek  widened,  and  as  we 
gli  lei  along,  <  ur  triumphal  chords  echoed  among  the  hills,  followed 
by  the  booming  of  our  little  cannon,  whose  reverberations  c-<me 
ba^V  fo  us  with  wonderful  di>tinc:iness  in  these  quieis  solitudes. 
All  liste-ed  a  moment,  and  there  came,  not  an  echo  now,  but  the 
b))min:f  of  another  gun,  and  our  friends  knew  that  their  signal 
was  h.ard,  and  that  their  friends  knew  we  were  coming. 


102  ESPERANZA. 

Our  boat  sped  on,  through  a  narrow  channel,  improved  by  art, 
unli\  aficr +1  turn  around  a  rich  gnjve  of  cotton  wood  trees,  we  came 
in  si  >lit  of  a  large  saw  mill  and  factory,  driven  by  the  stream  we 
were  ascending.  On  a  flag  staff,  over  one  of  its  gables,  floated  the 
stany  emblem  of  K^po-ai  z.i.  The  labors  of  the  day  were  ended; 
but  we  found  a  joyful  group  to  welcome  us,  and  open  tlie  single 
lock  that  carried  us  up  the  falls.  When  the  gates  were  closed  and 
secured,  and  our  frimds  had  come  on  board,  we  s'eamed  up  the 
cr.  ek  a  few  rods,  rounded  a  point,  nnd  with  a  triumphal  steam 
Son*'-,  and  the  sound  of  our  small  artillery,  shot  into  a  broad  clear 
lake,  upon  whose  shores  was  displayed  a  scene  of  such  enchanting 
beau;y  as  I  had  never  imagined,  and  can  never  in  all  my  life 
fjrget. 

There,  in  the  golden  light  of  a  most  gorgeous  sunset,  rose  the 
lovely  edifices  of  Esperanza.  The  Fairy  took  a  circle  in  the  lake, 
to  fj-ive  us  a  fairer  view.  Our  steam  organ  tilled  the  scene  with 
the  melody  of  home  ;  Edgar  and  little  Vincent  weie  hu-y  wi.li  ihc 
cannon  forward,  firing  a  ia{)id  salute,  whicli  was  an>wered  from  a 
mimic  fortress  on  the  shore  ;  sail  boats  were  hastening  lowaid  us 
across  the  1  ke  ;  the  broad  white  flag,  imbroidered  with  golden 
stars,  was  floating  fiom  the  tallest  spire,  and  through  my  tenrs  I 
SHW  a  "-oo  ily  comp my  gathered  on  the  sloping  lawn  to  welcome  us. 

Our  music  ceased,  our  prow  tuined  toward  the  landing.  I 
surviyed  the  beauty  of  the  seem-  before  me — tlie  noble  towers,  the 
o-rac-eful  arches,  the  embowered  porticos,  the  vai'ied  and  beauiful 
architecture  of  ?  Unitary  Home.  It  was  simple,  \etgiand  ;  chaste, 
ve"mo-<L  beauiful.  Trees,  and  vines,  and  flowering  s!i  rubs,  a;iJ  daik 
ever  I'-reens  were  sca'iei'ed  around,  with  a  consumraa  e  art  that  made 
a  niw  crea'inn  ;  beyond  were  the  s  one  houses,  and  gianaries,  and 
t';e  gr.  at  fiehlsand  orchards,  and  vine  yards,  and  the  gneu  pas.ure 
Ian  !s  stretching  up  the  hill  sides. 

When   we  '  pproached  the  shovs  as  we  did  si  wly,  there  sud 
denly  ro^e  i  to  ihe  sun  shine,  the  play  of  many  fountnins,  ihrowing 
up   their  sdvery  jpts  ;  lien  came  a  burst  of  g^and  musi^-  fiom  a 
noble  band,  on  tie  grea'  tenace  in  fi'ontof  the  <;entral    ower. 

Melodia  stood  at  my  side ;  calm  in  her  manner ;  her  voice  with- 


ESPERANZA.  103 

out  a  tremor,  but  I  knew  her  heart  was  beating.  I  s  w  the 
fl  is' ing  (»f  her  cheek  ;  her  bosom  swell  witli  emotion;  and  once 
she  stretched  out  her  arms  as  if  she  would  have  flown.  But  in  a 
m  men  she  was  calm  ajain,  and  smiled  on  us — Alfred  and  me, 
through  the  happy  tears. 

Tlie  Fairy  rounded  to  her  little  dock,  and  blew  her  steam  into 
the  wa  er,  with  a  dull  ronr.  We  went  on  shore,  and  were  m<t  by  a 
torrent  of  little  girls  and  boys,  who  first  surrounded  us  and  then 
took  little  Vir.ct-nt  prisoner  and  marched  him  off  in  triumph  ;  Mnd 
!!<:  we  wa'ki  d  up  the  graveled  ascent  of  the  lawn,  the  more  you  h- 
ful  and  im 'euous  1  astened  to  join  us;  but  the  music  quieted 
an  1  harmonized  all  dt  mors' ration-  of  joy,  and  in  a  momen'  more  I 
saw  Mt'lo'lia  clasped  in  tl  e  arms  of  him  who  hai  waited  calmly 
to  receive  her.  It  was  Vincent.  Tal.  erect,  pnle,  calm  and  almost 
cold  in  his  seeming,  he  yet  folded  tl  e  bemtiful  one  to  his  heart, 
and  pressed  a  k'ss  upon  her  brow ;  and  then  gave  her  'o  the 
warmer  embrace  of  a  delicate  woman  at  his  side,  who  kissed  her 
mu  y  t'mes  with  a  pass'orate  fondness. 

It  was  a  moment  in  which  the  breath  stops,  and  the  heart  almost 
forgets  to  beat.  In  the  embrace-;  of  these  two,  Vincent  and 
Harmonia,  ail  loves  and  all  welcomes  seemed  to  center  in  a  perfect 
sympathy. 

Next  they  welcomed  me,  kindly  and  affectionately,  not  as  a 
stranger,  but  as  if  I  too  had  come  back  to  them,  and  then  all  of  our 
little  company  ;  and  n^w  as  we  stood  so  grouped  arid  flusered 
together,  in  the  glow  of  the  sun  set,  the  band  struck  a  prelude,  and 
a  1  undred  voices  of  men  and  women  and  the  rosy  children,  joined 
in  a  song  of  welcome.  And  as  the  last  notes  went  up  to  heaven, 
the  evening  gun  was  fired,  the  great  white  and  gol  len  flacr  des- 
cended, the  bugle  signal  for  the  evening  meal  was  given,  and  we  all 
went  to  the  grea'.  banqueting  hall,  where  tables  were  -et  for 
every  gToup,  and  adorned  with  flowers,  whose  delicate  per'umes 
filled  the  air,  while  an  invi-ible  in>;trumen^,  plavin<>-  at  intervals, 
stirred  it  wi  h  the  vibra'ions  of  <  xq-isi'e  melodies. 

The  supper  la  ted  an  hour.  Ti  e  f  od  was  cf  the  most  sin^ple 
ani  iehcate  kind.     The  flavors  were  like  the  odors  of  t.'>e  flowers : 


104  ESPEKANZA. 

not  coarse  and  obtrusive,  but  fine  and  penetrating.  Gastronomy,  I 
saw,  was  a  science  ;  and  none  of  the  senses  were  neglected.  The 
chairs  we  sat  in  weie  the  perfection  of  comfort;  the  table  service 
of  a  pure  quality  and  elegant  forms.  The  room  was  painted  with 
cool  tints  and  exquisite  designs,  while  a  tinkling  fountain  cooled  the 
air,  which  was  also  changed  continually  by  a  scientific  ventilation, 
which  filled  the  room  with  refreshing  zephyrs.  There  was  every 
where  the  hum  of  happy  voices  talking  in  quiet,  subdued  tones. 
Ea'cu  the  groups  of  children,  old  enough  to  leave  the  nursery,  and 
eating  by  themselves,  with  only  one  or  two  of  their  most  especial 
friends  at  each  table,  were  gentle  and  quiet,  and  harmonized  to  the 
spirit  of  the  scene. 

It  seemed  to  me  that  there  was  a  pervading  unity ;  yet  each 
group  was  distinct.  Only  at  one  moment  were  all  united.  Vincent 
rose  at  the  head  of  the  table  of  his  group,  where  he  sat  between 
Harmonia  and  Melodia,  and  said,  "  Friends ;  a  toast !  Welcome 
to  those  who  have  returned  to  us,  and  welcome  to  our  guest." 

The  toast  was  drunk  in  the  crystal  water,  as  the  head  or  center 
of  each  group,  even  the  children  repeated  it.  I  rose,  with  the 
others  so  welcomed,  w^ho  were  scattered  in  tlie  groups  to  which 
they  belonged,  and  we  bowed  our  thinks.  Then  the  band,  whose 
members  had  quietly  left  their  seats  a  moment  betore,  played 
exquisi'ely  for  a  few  moments,  and  the  supper  was  ended. 

Scattered  groups  now  gathered  on  the  lawn,  in  the  soft  summer 
twilight.  They  clustered  in  little  companies,  sitting  on  the  soft 
grass,  in  twos  and  threes,  or  dozens,  each  group  far  enough  from 
the  others  not  to  interfere  with  their  conversation  or  amusements. 
Some  sang  low,  sweet  songs,  with  guitar  accompaniments  ;  some 
were  relating  stories,  as  in  a  new  and  purer  Decameron  ;  some  were 
planning  work  in  industry  or  art,  or  amusement  for  the  morrow, 
and  all  seemed  happy. 

Melodia  sat  awhile  between  Vincent  and  Harmonia.  Alfr^^d  and 
I  completed  the  group  for  a  time.  Others  came  of  whom  I  must 
speak  hereafter  Melodia  recountt^d  her  journey  :  then  she  took 
my  arm  and  guided  me  among  the  groups,  pointing  out.  and 
sometimes  introducing  me  to  those  I  might  wish  to  know.     But 


EsPERAKZA.  1C5 

formal  introductions  were  little  needed,  as  all — even  the  y 'iing 
ladies  and  the  children,  came  to  me  as  frankly  as  if  I  hal  bi.en  aa 
old  acquaintance. 

The  shades  deepened,  the  holy  stars  came  out.  I  saw  boats 
stealing  out  from  their  little  harbors,  to  a  small  island  before  us  in 
the  lake,  which  is  laid  oat  as  a  garden,  with  an  elegant  pavilion. 
Soon  we  heard  a  slight  explosion,  and  saw  a  gleam  of  light.  Ma  y 
colored  stars  seemed  shooting  into  the  sky.  Then  followed  a  flight 
of  rockets,  and  such  a  pretty  exhibition  of  scientific  pyrotechny, 
as  delighted  us  all,  and  sent  the  children  to  their  beds  extremely 
happy. 

Then  the  windows  of  a  large  saloon  over  the  dinino--rortm,  were 
in  a  blaze  of  light.  We  heard  music  again  sounding  iis  cheerful 
strains  ;  and  all  ran  gleefully  to  prep  ire. 

"  They  welcome  you  with  a  festival,"  I  said  to  Melndia,  "like  a 
princess  returned  to  her  dominions." 

"Oh!  no:  We  have  fiieworks  often;  music  and  happiness 
always.  They  are  happy  to  see  us,  but  are  making  no  extraordi- 
nary manifestation." 

We  went  to  the  music  hall ;  listened  to  some  admirable 
instrumentation  ;  heard  a  new  chorus,  just  composed  by  one  of 
the  cultivators  of  this  divine  art,  who  came  forward  and  directed 
the  performance  ;  and  then  there  was  a  dance  in  which  all  mingled 
beautifully  and  h  ppily  for  an  hour,  during  which  I  saw  that  the 
musicians  were  more  than  once  relieved  that  they  might  take  part 
in  the  dancing. 

You  may  well  suppose,  that  in  all  I  have  narrated,  there  were 
many  things  entirely  different  from  our  accustomed  life.  There 
was  much  more  than  I  can  tell  you  now,  and  yet  the  whole  did  not 
differ  so  much  from  the  most  refined  societies  as  y'.u  mio-ht 
suppose.  It  was  more  natural,  b  autiful,  loveful.  There  was  an 
inexpressible  charm  of  repose  in  tlie  midst  of  gayety,  of  which  (jur 
fashionable  languor  is  a  coarse  imitation. 

At  the  end  of  he  last  dance,  which  finished  at  ten  o'clock,  there 
was  a  Good  Niglit  Carol,  merry  and  cordial,  and  all  retired  to 
their  apartments.     Melodia  led  me  to  a  charming  litile  bed-room, 


106  ESPERANZA. 

in  her  oAvn  suite,  furnished  with  a  bathing  room  and  every 
convenience,  and  alorned  with  the  productions  of  her  gr-iceful 
p?ncil.  The  window  opened  on  the  scented  lawn  ;  fra^ran'  <dnrs 
were  lound  me.  ''he  moon  was  rising  over  the  silveiy  l;ke,  the 
s'ars  were  gleaming  with  their  ang«l  glances,  and  with  a  tender 
good  ni^ht  in  my  ear,  and  a  dewy  kiss  upon  my  chiek,  I  sunk  to 
r^  St. 

I  had  -lumbered  an  hour  —  I  was  dreaming  1  appily  of  yi  u, 
sweet  one,  so  f^»r  away,  when  soft  music  mingled  magically  in  my 
dream,  an  J  slowly  awakened  me.  How  delicious  it  was.  I  knew 
it;  w  s  mea  t  for  Mtlodia,  b  ;t  it  whs  no  less,  ah  !  it  wa-  even  more 
b'^au'.iful  to  me.  And  wltli  fdl  I  could  have  of  it,  and  all  tl  a^  w  s 
mine.  I  sank  into  a  profound  and  dieamless  sleep,  surrounded  by  a 
sphere  oF  happiness  that  wanted  only  you  to  be  compleLe. 


VII. 

MT    FIRST    DAT    AT    ESPERANZA. 

I  WOKE  very  early,  yet  entirely  refreshed.  The  life  arounJ  me 
seems  full  of  invigoraiion,  and  time  is  lust  in  sleep.  Ah,  my  CUiia  ! 
we  shall  never  wish  to  kill  time  here.  0  that  you  were  with  me 
now,  to  see  and  feel  vviih  me  the  life  1  can  but  faintly  portray  to 
you  ! 

'J'he  li^cht  had  inst  beoun  its  struo-q-le  with  darkness,  and  the 
eastern  stars  grew  pale  in  the  conflict.  1  heard  those  little  warb- 
ings  of  the  birds,  which  are  tlie  prelude  of  their  morning  songs. 
Then  came  the  crowing  of  many  chaalicleers  from  the  poultry- 
house.  But,  as  the  dawn  grew  rosy,  an  1  ihe  light  diffused,  there 
came  other  music.  There  was  the  roll  of  a  drum,  fii-st  low,  and 
then  louder;  and  then  the  call  of  a  single  trumpet;  next  a  trom- 
bone, and  then  came  mu-ic  like  the  liglit,  full,  ricli,  inspiring,  that 
roused  me  from  mv  couch,  nnd  I  listened  to  one  of  thi  se  ulorious 
bu;-sts  of  mel.jiy,  for  w'lich  n  full  baal  of  euchusiastic  arcis:-.  only 
can  tind  expression.  1  looked  out  upon  the  lawn,  and  j^aw  Mr. 
Vincent  leading  the  band  with  tlie  cornet-  -piston  ;  ,  laying  as  you 
woulJ  wi>h  sujh  a  man  to  play — without  pre  ens'e,  wi  hout  eftbrr 
at  LXicution,  b'.'t  with  a  giand    power  of  expiession. 

As  this  noble  reveil  e  ended,  I  hear  I  the  rush  of  many  waters  ; 
ani,  taking  a  refreshing  bath,  I  w  s  ready  lo  join  ti.e  groups 
gathering  at  the  parade  for  sunrise.  It  was  on  the  eas  ern  slope  ; 
an  1  neailyall  were  gathered.  Tlie  youngest  chil  ren,  and  their 
nursfs,  and  ihe  few  aged  or  weak,  alone  were  absent.  The  gi'oups 
gathered  silently,  or  exciianging  greetings  wi;h  low  voic<  s.  Har- 
mouia  s-ood  a-  the  side  of  Vine  nt,  an  1  welcomed  nie  wi  h  a 
pleaoant  smde ;  Melodia  held  out  her  hand  to  me,  anJ  as  I  gave  one 

137 


108  KsPt.KA.NZA. 

to  her,  I  extended  the  other  to  dfVed.  Eugenia  and  Laura  were  in 
near  groups.  I  he  r-rnldreii  formed  in  separa  e  groups  of  their 
own,  and  all  knt-w  their  places,  or  took  lliose  they  liked  best.  Tliere 
was  order,  bu^  no  constraint,  and  a  l.armony  d.at  seemed  the  result 
of  something  higher  than  discipline.  Vincent  stood  in  the  center, 
faring  the  east,  with  the  band  behind,  and  our  group  around  him  ; 
the  Other  groups  spread  off,  right  and  left,  forming  a  crescent,  opt  n- 
ing  to  the  east,  where  the  firmanent  was  now  glowing.  All  was 
siltnt — hen  a  ray  of  sunshine  shotacross  the  scene  ;  a  cannon  lired  ; 
the  white  flag  witli  it-  symbol  stars  rose  gracefully  to  itssiatt" ;  the 
band  played  a  grand  prelude,  and  men,  women,  and  children 
]oined  in  a  noble  chorus,  to  salute  the  day. 

When  it  was  ended,  the  crescent  closed  into  a  circle  around 
V^incent,  who  read  tlie  Orders  of  the  Day.  The  first  was  the  Order 
of  Iniustry,  consisting  of  an  enumeraLion  of  the  work  most  needful 
to  bs  done,  naming  the  leaJer  of  the  day  in  eacli  department,  and 
calling  for  a  certain  numb3r  of  vokxnteers  for  each  work.  First 
came  tlie  household,  or  domestic  duties  ;  such  a  lady  and  so  many 
assistants  for  the  kitchen  ;  so  for  the  laundry  ;  a  leader  and  a, 
company  for  the  hai'ves  field  ;  others  for  the  orchards  and  gardens, 
poul  ry  yard  and  dairy  ;  others  for  building  ;  and  the  mill  and 
factory.  All  the  work  was  laid  out,  and  as  each  leader  was  called, 
he  or  she  stepped  forward,  and  was  promptly  joined  by  the  first 
relay  of  workers — so  promptly,  that  it  was  easy  to  see  that  it  liad 
all  been  canvassed  and  arrano-ed  the  ni 'ht  before,  so  that  (-ach  one 
lad  chosen  his  work  and  companions,  and  wore  the  baJge  of  his 
group. 

The  leaders  of  the  harder  or  more  repugnant  labors  were  men  ; 
those  of  the  lio-hter  and  more  asfreeable,  women.  Laura,  for  the 
day,  was  mistress  of  the  group  of  confectioners,  or  preservers  of 
fruit.  Eugenia  had  charge  of  the  flower  garden.  Boys  of  ten  or 
fifteen,  and  young  mi-ses,  were  chiefs  of  groups  of  industry,  and 
took  their  positions,  and  gathered  tlieir  adheren'.s  around  them  Avi  h 
a  flush  of  pride.  I  saw  that  the  groups  were  composed  of  both 
stxes  ;  those  for  the  harder  toils  and  out  door  duties  beinir  two- 


ESPERA>-ZA.  J  09 

thirds  or  more  of  men  ;  those  of  indoor  employments,  mostly,  but 
not  entirely,  of  woman. 

All  this  was  arranged  in  less  time  than  you  take  to  read  it ; 
when  the  Order  of  Recreation  was  called.  This  was  for  the  after- 
noon ;  a  regatta  on  the  lake  ;  music  practice  ;  artist  work  ;  rehearsals 
of  drama  and  opera,  etc.  TLese  were  under  more  permanent  direc- 
tion, and  the  leaders  known.     The  time  only  was  given. 

Fiaally,  an  opera  was  announced  for  the  evening ;  when  the 
band  played  a  lively  air  which  set  all  in  motion.  Those  whose 
duties  were  immediate,  as  the  gioups  for  preparing  breakfast, 
feeding  animals,  etc.,  repaired  to  their  functions  ;  the  rest  to  the 
lecture-room  and  lessuns  of  the  morning.  As  all  this  had  been 
arranged  in  twenty  minutes,  there  was  left  more  than  an  hour, 
either  for  quiet  reading  or  study,  for  conversation,  or  for  the  morn- 
ing lecture  on  some  branch  of  science,  or  practical  lesson  connected 
with  in  iustry  or  art. 

I  went  with  Melodia  to  the  Lecture-room.  Most  of  the  younger, 
and  more  intellectual  had  gathered  there.  It  was  itself  a  panorama 
of  science ;  a  circular  room  with  a  dome  of  blue,  admittino-  a  soft 
light  through  itself,  and  the  cons:;elladons  of  the  northern  heavens. 
Tlie  walls,  or  lather  a  continuous  circle  of  wall,  was  painted  to 
represent  the  various  climates  and  scenery  of  the  eartli.  At  the 
north  and  south  are  icebergs,  white  bears,  seals.  East  and  west, 
the  equatorial  regions  of  the  eastern  and  western  hemispheres,  Avith 
their  vegetation,  animals,  and  peoples,  and  the  tt-mperate  regions  in 
their  places.  It  is  cl.arming  as  a  work  of  art,  and  perfect  as  a 
scientific  representation.  The  fore-ground  is  boldly  painted,  so  as 
to  represent  geolo.  ical  structures,  minerals,  and  rare  animals  and 
plants.  I  he'C  is  land  and  sea  ;  calm  and  storm  ;  here  a  wacer  spout, 
and  there  a  tornado.  Ships  sail  the  summer  seas ;  steamers  cloud  the 
sky.  My  eye  wandered  over  every  part  with  surprise  and  plea-^ure. 
Mr.  Vincent  gave  the  morning  discourse  on  the  Unity  of  JS'ature  ; 
treating  all  sciences  as  portions  of  the  one  science,  and  giving  the 
analogies  which  pervade  the  universe  many  illustrations.  "  A 
principle,  which  can  be  demonstrated  as  such,"  he  saii,  "  is  uni- 
versal in  its  application.    The  laws  of  harmony  in  music  we  find  to 


110  ESPERANZA. 

be  those  of  social  accords.  Chemical  affinities  are  no  more  ruled 
by  inexv)rabk'  laws,  than  the  relations  of  fi'iendsliip  and  love.  Eveiy 
atom  in  ti.e  universe  is  distinct  fiom  every  other,  as  is  eveiy  indi- 
viJuil  spiri  — a  li  the  s  )cial  order  we  have  achieve  J  is  by  haxinj;' 
eveiy  sonl-a^om  free  to  follow  its  own  attractiuns  and  repulsions, 
an  1  to  pUce  i.self  and  not  be  placed.  Oir  freedom  is  the  free- 
dom not  to  disob  -y  any  law  of  our  beings  ;  our  freedom  not  to  be 
placed  wheri-  we  do  not  belong. 

•'Science  is  not  a  thing  apart  from  life.  We  do  well  to  know  tl  e 
universe,  and  our  place  in  it,  and  relation  to  every  other  part.  If 
the  soul  of  our  planet  is  conscious  of  us,  it  must  feel  new  vigoi' and 
hope  with  this  g<rm  of  social  harmony,  and  as  it  extends,  Wf^  may 
hope  for  serener  skies,  more  equable  climes,  and  a  more  abounding 
feriili:y. 

"Wt  do  well  to  k'  ow  the  earth,  and  all  its  countries  and  peoples: 
we  see  how  much  work  there  is  before  us,  for  all  must  be  won  to 
our  harmony. 

"  We  do  well  to  make  ourselves  acquainted  wi  h  all  vegeables 
and  animals,  that  we  may  find  usi  s  for  all  the  good,  and  extiipate 
those  which  belong   o  the  sphere  of  discord. 

"  Above  all  we  are  to  study  the  Life  that  informs  and  unfolds  all 
things:  that  glitters  in  the  crystal,  and  palpitates  in  the  heart ; 
that  works  out  beautv  in  man  and  woman,  and  unily  in  all  who 
can  unite  in  a  true  life. 

"We  w  11  work  on  patien'ly,  hopefully,  joyfully  ;  for  tl-.e  time  is 
near,  w^henour  experiment  vviUbeende  I,  and  the  true  life  of  man  in 
society  will  be  seen  to  be,  not  th  •  idle  dream  of  a  btnevolent  en- 
thusiast, but  the  practical  realization  of  purified,  enlightened,  and 
spiritualized  ];umanity. 

"Let  us  live  lius  life,  then,  in  all  purity,  i  ot  for  ourselve-  alone, 
but  for  the  Earth,  our  Great  Mother  ;  for  the  Humanity  to  which  wo 
belong  ;  for  those  who  have  gone  before,  and  who  now  look  down 
upcni  us  ;  and  for  tho-e  who  shall  come  after,  and  blets  us." 

I  give  a  few  sentences  of  tids  disc  'Urse,  omitting  the  scientific 
facts  and  illustr  itions.  The  audience  rose,  filled  with  tlie  earliest 
feeling  of  the    speaker,  and    broke  into  groups  of  persons  who 


ESPERANZA.  Ill 

conversad  together,  and  walked  tlirough  the  library  and  reading 
room,  an  J  we  soon  heard  tlie  signal  for  breakfast. 

A  vegetarian  breakfast,  on  a  large  sc  Je,  is  a  beautiful  thing. 
Tiiis  was  not  wholly  so.  A:iimalized  substances,  as  eggs,  and  tlie 
p;oiucts  of  the  daiiv,  wert-  on  many  of  the  tables.  But  the  ^tiples 
of  con  umplion  were  the  various  prt-paiations  of  corn  and  w.  eat, 
in  breal,  mush,  and  cakes,  and  fruics,  fresh  and  preserved,  or  in 
marmalades  and  syrups.  There  was  no  more  haste  than  a  a  fes- 
tival, it  was  a  cheerfiil  meal.  From  the  younger  groups  came 
bursts  of  laughter.  In  twenty  minutes,  the  tables  were  cleared : 
and  a  few  minutes  after,  I  stood  in  a  balcony  and  saw  the  parade 
of  the  groups  of  Industry,  Their  costumes  were  adapted  to  the 
work  of  each.  The  young  and  robust  wom  n  and  girls,  who  had 
volunteered  for  the  harvest  field  and  other  out  door  labors,  wore 
blouses  and  trowsers,  and  could  be  distinguished  from  the  men  only 
by  their  smaller  limbs,  and  more  delicate  figures.  They  were 
rosy  and  happy,  every  one. 

I  have  not  spoken  of  the  dress  here.  It  is  so  remarlable,  that  I 
wish  to  give  you  a  full  account  of  it.  The  working  dress,  however, 
is  nearly  uniform,  of  a  strong  light  colored  material,  easily  washed; 
and  as  it  is  used  in  the  common  labors,  it  comes  from  a  common 
stock.  I  he  dn  sses  of  the  afternoon  and  evening  aie  suited  to  tha 
taste  and  fancy  of  each,  and  are  as  varied  as  tlie  characters  of  the 
wearers,  each  trying  to  make  in  dress,  as  in  every  thing,  the  truest 
and  best  expression  of  individual  character.  The  effect  s  indescri- 
b  ibly  beautiful,  and  can  scarcely  be  conceived  by  those  who  have 
only  seen  all  men  and  women  dressed  nearly  alike,  and  in  accord- 
ance with  the  prevailing  fashions. 

Even  in  the  working  dresses,  the  bands,  badges,  and  ornaments 
a  e  varied  and  characteristic.  The  children  carrv  this  to  a  pictur- 
esque excess,  indulging  in  quite  a  fantastic  display  of  personal  ad- 
dornmeat.  But  th  *  taste  of  those  who  are  most  respected,  the 
artists  and  most  cultivated  persons,  gives  tone  to  all,  and  keeps  all 
in  harmony. 

The  bands  marched  out,  one  by  one,  each  singing  its  own  song  ; 
aad  the  day's  wo.k  bad  begun.     Melodia  led  the  way  up  a  stair 


i\2  EsFEBANZA. 

case  in  the  tower,  and  knocked  al  a  door,  which,  in  opening,  ad- 
,niitted  us  to  the  study  of  Mr.  Vincent.  It  is  ;in  octagon  room 
with  seven  windows;  and  as  it  is  above  the  roofs  of  the  buil.lings,  it 
afford  a  view  of  the  whole  domain.  I  saw  it  spread  out  before  me, 
on  every  side  ;  front  is  the  lake  with  its  forest  on  the  opposite  shore, 
supplying  timber  of  which  I  soon  saw  a  raft,  which  some  happy 
boys  were  sailing  toward  the  saw-mill.  In  the  rear  are  the  or- 
chards, and  vineyard,  and  the  great  garden,  filled  with  a  profusion 
of  berries,  trui's,  and  vegelables.  The  vines,  trees,  and  cultivated 
berries  climb  high  up  the  hill  sides,  where  a  stream,  fed  by  moun- 
tain springs,  an  I  which  supplies  the  domain,  is  led  along  the  slope 
and  affords  water  for  irrigation.  To  the  right  and  left  stretch  the 
great  fields  of  corn  and  wheat,  and  pasture  land  for  horses,  cattle 
and  sheep.  Around  the  central  buildings,  all  is  a  garden  of  flowers 
and  shrubbery  ;  walks,  fountains  and  groves ;  the  work  of  loving 
workers,  in  the  groups  of  recreation.  I  tell  you  what  I  saw  first ; 
but  I  must  now  introduce  you  to  him  whom  you  have  recognised 
as,  in  some  sort,  the  presiding  genius  of  this  scene.  The  room  is 
plainly  furi  ished — its  only  luxuries  consisting  of  some  pictures  and 
other  keepsakes.  A  few  books  were  on  a  shelf —  mostly  standard 
scientific  works.  There  were  some  volumes  of  Fourier,  with  his 
autograph  in  one  of  them  ;  and  a  portrait  of  the  noble  Harmonist, 
in  cvnyon.  There  are  also  portraits  of  a  few  other  masters  in 
Science,  Lierature,  and  Art,  and  of  some  lovely  women.  There 
was  also  a  violin,  a  flute,  a  cornet-a-piston,  and  a  melodeon. 

He  was  sitting  at  his  table,  with  writing  and  drawing  materials, 
and  music  paper.  He  did  not  rise,  to  receive  us,  but  held  nut  a 
hand  to  each.  He  drew  me  to  a  chair,  riear  him  ;  and  Melodia  sat 
on  a  cushion,  and  leaned  upon  his  knee.  He  is  a  little  tiller  than 
I  ;im  ;  his  hair  and  heard  brown,  his  eyes  hazel ;  his  face  thin  and 
pale,  mostly  grave  in  expression,  but  with  smiles  often  playing 
among  lines  of  study  and  care.  His  forehead  is  severe,  but  the 
mou'h  genial,  with  a  pleasant,  but  not  melodious  voice,  a  pure  ar- 
ticulation, and  a  frank  address.  He  is  slender,  and  erect,  and  as 
to  his  age,  any  where  from  thirty  to  forty-five — simply  a  man  at 
maturity,  without  any  mark  of  decay. 


EsPERANZA.  1 1 3 

"  We  are  glad  to  have  a  visitor,  Mr.  Wilson.  Ytm  are  welcome  to 
Esperanza.  I  ho|..e  you  had  a  pleasant  journey,"  he  said,  Avith  a 
grave  courtesy. 

"  You  know  my  company,"  I  answered ;  and  his  eye  fell  with  a 
proud  tenderness  on  the  beautiful  woman  at  his  side. 

"I  think  you  could  sjarcely  have  found  better,"  he  said  ;  "and 
now  we  must  be  hospi:able.  If  it  is  agree  ble,  I  will  be  glad  to 
show  you  our  home,  and  to  give  you  the  chance  of  a  general  sur- 
vey, and  then  you  can  pursue  any  det.iils  you  mny  wish  a:  your 
leisure.  We  will  have  horses,  and  find  one  to  accompany  us." 
Speaking  through  a  tube,  he  asked  for  some  saddle  horses,  and  then 
went  with  us  to  the  apartments  of  Harmonia.  He  knock-  d  lightly 
at  the  door,  and  a  fair  rose-i  ud  girl  of  ten  years  bid  us  enter,  and 
putting  her  arm  around  her  papa,  deman  led  a  kiss. 

We  were  in  th-  presence  of  a  woman  of  sf-arcely  the  medium 
h«  ight,  her  face  thin  and  pale,  with  delicate  little  hands  and  feet, 
but  with  arras  and  form  well  rounded.  Her  eyes  are  of  a  heavenly 
blue,  her  hair  dark,  glossy,  and  curling  in  ringle:s  ;  her  forehead 
intellectual  ;  and  though  there  are  lines  of  care  upon  her  face, 
and  silver  in  her  hair,  suffering  and  disease,  rather  than  years,  have 
made  them. 

She  kissed  Vincent  and  Melodia,  and  gave  me  her  hand,  over 
which  I  bint  reverently  ;  for  1  stood  now  in  the  presence  of  the  cen- 
ter of  the  heart-life  of  this  home ;  the  chosen  medium  of  the  spirit- 
love,  that  has  formed  upon  earth  one  sphere  of  rest  and  hap'^-iness, 
the  oni'  wliom  all  here  revere  and  love.  I  fclc  the  infiuenc-e  of 
her  pure  loving  life  around  me.  The  whole  room  seemed  tilled 
with  it.  It  was  furnished  with  a  sinoular,  but  fil'ino-  eleifance, 
rinl  with  a  harmony  of  firms,  colors,  and  arr  ngi-ment,  such  as  1 
have  never  seen.  It  seemed  to  me,  that  if  one  ardcle  had  been 
removed  or  disp'aced.  it  woidd  have  marred  the  harmony.  The 
c-dors  were  buff,  blue  and  rose  ;  the  picture  frames  and  furniture 
carvinsr-^  of  oak,  and  liorht  mouldino-s  of  o-ol  I.  Va>es  of  blue  and 
gold  were  filled  with  odorous  flowers  ;  the  offerings  of  affectionate 
devotion.  A  canary  and  a  mocking  bird  were  singing  emulou-ly 
among  the  roses  in  a  bow  window.  A  lax'ge  music  box  lay  on  the 
10 


114  lioPhBAXZA. 

carved  octagon  table  in  the  center  of  the   room,   which   played 
airs  of  Massanaella  and  William  Tell,  her  favorite  operas. 

"  We  are  going  to  show  Mr.  Wilson  our  home,"  said  Vincent,  with 
a  tender  dt  ference  of  manner,  which  one  does  not  expect  from  a 
husband,  "  will  you  give  us  your  company?  " 

"  With  pleasure — but  you  must  let  Angela  have  her  pony,  and 
ride  with  us  ;  for  I  have  promised  her  the  morning.'' 

The  little  face  that  had  saddened  a  moment  before,  at  the  idea 
of  losing  this  precious  morning  with  her  mother,  now  brightened, 
and  she  ran  aw;iy  to  prepare,  and  summon  her  little  steed. 

The  ladies  were  soon  equipped  for  the  saddle  with  riding  skirts, 
and  plumed  caps  ;  four  glossy  saddle  horses  were  brought  to  the 
door  by  as  many  happy  boys,  and  we  saw  in  a  moment  after  a  round 
and  roguish  little  Canadian  pony  come  bounding  up,  with  a  boy  of 
a  dozen  years  on  his  back,  who  assisted  the  bluet-yed,  rosy,  and  most 
beautiful  Angela  into  her  saddle,  as  if  she  had  been  a  princess, 
and  he  her  own  true  knight.  Vincent  helped  Harmonia  to  mount, 
and  I  gave  my  hand  to  Melodia  ;  but  when  we  were  leaJy,  Har- 
monia signed  me  to  ride  next  her  ;  while  Melodialed  off  with  Vincent, 
and  Angela  was  on  all  sides  of  us  by  turns. 

First  we  rode  along  the  hard  beach  of  the  lake,  across  which  a 
cool  breeze  was  blowing  ;  then  in  a  road  thiough  the  wheat  har- 
vest, where  over  hundreds  of  broad  acres,  heavily  laden  with  the 
bright  grain,  two  machine  reapers,  each  drawn  by  four  horses  were 
doing  their  rapid  work.  The  near  horse  of  each  span  was  ridden 
by  a  boy  or  girl  ;  the  machine  was  followed  by  a  group  of  binders, 
and  the  sheaves  were  loaded  in  a  waggon  at  once,  and  conveyed 
to  the  threshing  barn,  to  be  further  ripened  in  the  sun,  wliere 
they  could  also  be  siieltered  in  a  few  moments  from  a  passing 
shower. 

In  the  center  of  the  field  was  a  grove,  affording  a  pleasant  shade 
for  men  and  horses  in  the  intervals  of  Inbor ;  with  food  and 
drink.  Here  they  took  their  intervals  of  r^  st,  and  here  reposed  tl.e 
relay*  of  tho  e  who  did  the  hardest  labor,  or  tl.o-^e  who  wern  ex 
changing  from  this  to  some  other  group.  There  was  a  spring,  n  c!eer, 
and  enthusiasm  in  the  work  of  this  group,    such  as   never  comes 


EbP£RAXZA.  115 

from  mercenary  task  labor.  The  will  and  the  love  were  in  the 
work ;  and  it  w  s  a  real  festival  of  industry. 

To  tlie  right  of  the  wheat  spread  out  a  vast  field  of  bright 
Indian  corn,  through  wliich  a  little  squadron  of  horses  were 
drawing  the  cultivators  ;  each  horse  ridden  by  a  boy  or  girl,  with 
their  plumed  sun-hat>,  who  went  on  in  a  merry  company,  singing 
as  they  went,  wliile  the  men,  who  guided  the  culiivat  rs,  often 
joined  their  deeper  voices  to  the  merry  songs.  Beyond,  a  field  of 
oats  was  ripening,  and  we  saw  up  on  the  hill  si.ie,  and  beneath 
the  picturesque  groves,  the  horses  not  in  use,  and  the  cows,  and 
goats,  and  ^heep. 

"  Here,"  said  Vincent,  as  we  halted  under  a  grove  to  look  upon 
this  lovely  scene,  "you  see  the  staple  of  our  industry  ;  that  which 
gives  us  the  s'afF  of  life.  Bread,  or  some  form  of  farinacious  food, 
and  fruit,  form  five-sevenths  of  our  nourishment,  and  these  are  the 
first  to  be  provided.  There,"  —  pointing  to  the  gardens  and 
orchards  wliich  rose  back  of  the  hou-e —  "is  the  source  of  the 
most  beautiful  and  best  part  of  our  food  ;  and  that  which  gives  us 
least  labor  and  most  pleasure  in  the  cultivation." 

We  rode  on  to  the  end  of  the  domain.  A  spur  from  the  hill 
here  shot  down  nearly  to  the  lake,  and  the  interval  was  crossed  by 
a  high  strong  paling,  with  a  gate,  strongly  locked  against  the  out- 
side worl  1.  A  rou^h  road  leads  off  some  ten  miles  to  the  nearest 
settlement  in  that  direction.  Putting  our  horses  to  an  easy 
gallop,  we  swept  around  by  the  hill  side,  skirting  along  the 
pastures  to  the  orchards  and  A^ineyards.  The  apples,  pears, 
and  g-apes  were  swelling  with  their  riches ;  and  the  peaches 
an:l  plums  were  in  their  full  harvest.  Here  we  dismounted  and 
joined  the  groups,  composed  chiefly  of  women  and  girls,  gathering 
the  ripened  fruit.  Here  the  children  were  at  work  with  great 
enthusiasm,  performing  their  full  share  of  labor.  They  stormed 
the  trees  wi  h  their  scaling  lad  lers,  and  shook  the  fiuit  from  th  e 
branches  into  the  large  funnels  of  cloths  spread  underneath,  and 
opening  into  tiie  baskets.  Others  managed  the  little  waggons 
drawn  by  goats,  rams,  and  ponies,  which  drew  the  fruits  to  the 
afore  houses,  where  other  groups  were  engaged  in  sealing  them 


116  ESPERANZA. 

up  in  air-tight  cans,  preparing  them  for  drying,  or  making  mar- 
malades and  jellies.  Others  were  at  work  in  the  gardens.  It  waa 
a  busy  time — but  evidently  a  happy  one.  I  did  not  see  one  sickly 
looking,  or  Norrovvful,  or  discontented,  or  idle  person. 

As  we  rode  along,  group  after  group  saluted  us  Avith  a  joyful 
wehome.  The  chiliren  offered  fruii  or  fliiwers  to  us  all,  but 
particularly  to  Haimoni  i.  Angela  was  ai  home  every  wh«-re.  Not 
less  so  our  beau  iful  Melodia,  in  whose  presence  every  eye  beamed 
with  a  brighter  luster.  I  noted  the  different  influence  of  these  two 
wom(  n  <in  myself  and  others.  Melodia  excited  to  >  nergy  and 
enthi:sia-ra,  and  inspired  admiration  and  devotion  ;  Harmoida  was 
the  center  of  a  most  reverential  love.  I  saw  how  each  was  relaied 
to  Vincent,  an  I  to  each  other,  and,  even  with  my  crude  ideas  and 
unharmonized  feelings,  I  could  si-e  no  ground  for  jealousy,  nor  can 
I  detect,  with  the  most  suspicious  watchfulness,  the  least  sign  of 
such  a  feeling  in  any  of  tho-<e  around  me 

As  we  came  to  the  buildings,  we  found  Alfred  at  the  head  of  a 
group  of  builders,  hard  at  work  with  hammer  and  trowel,  laying 
the  walls  of  a  new  wing  of  the  home,  which  was  enlarging  for 
new  groups  of  members.  I  saw  here  how  thn  whole  pile  lad 
grown,  like  the  growth  of  a  tree,  eveiy  addition  increasing  its 
beauty.  The  lirger  portions  for  general  u^es  ;  the  Banquet. ing 
Hall  ;  he  Fe-tive  Hall ;  the  Hall  of  Science  ;  the  Libraiy  ;  these  had 
been  bu  It  of  a  sufficient  size  at  fii'st  to  accommodate  seven  hundted 
P'  rsons.  or  were  adapted  to  an  easyex'ensi  n.  So  the  nurseries  for 
infants,  the  nnitary  kitchen,  laundiy,  cellars,  store  houses,  and  work 
shops  were  all  on  the  h-u-ge  scale — not  the  fu  1  scale  of  Fourier, 
but  the  modified  scale  of  a  model  home  ;  for,  lhou^■h  eighteen 
hundred  person  of  all  grades  may  be  necessaiy  to  a  full  harmony, 
a  much  smaller  number  of  car^  fully  selected  and  adapted  ones, 
may  produce  equal  results. 

We  passed  through  the  frui' -preparing  room,  and  saw  the  groups 
of  skilled  men  and  women  preserving  iheir  .stores,  which  were 
packed  away  for  future  use.  Then  we  went  through  a  Imn  ry, 
where  two  menand  thn  e  women,  wi  h  s'eam-p'wer  and  machinery, 
were  doing  the  entire   washing   of  the   home,   where    clothing  is 


ESPERANZA.  lit 

abuu  !kii:,  an  I  clfcanliness  the  first  of  virtues.  This  is  no  idle 
dep.'irtmynt.  A  thou.sani  towtls  a  day  ;  bed-liuen  and  clothing  for 
day  a  d  ni^ht ;  all  ihe  common  work  is  done  here;  but  tliere  is 
anjcher  place  lor  the  fine  and  ornamental  work,  whicda  is  arranged 
diiiertnLly. 

Then  wi  visi  eJ  the  kitch'  n  an  1  bakery  ;  and  h  iviag  lunched, 
role  down  th'-  lake  to  its  oui-let,  wliere  water  power  drives  saw 
mill,  fl  turiug  mdl,  anl  ihe  heavier  work  of  various  manufecLurea 
On  the  way  we  passed  fields  of  peas,  beans,  asparagus,  tomatoes, 
a:iithe  ^w^■el,and  Irish  po^toe.  I'he  yam,  plantain,  and  banana,  and 
0;ang3  are  cul  iva  ed  in  places  sheltered  from  the  nor.h,  and  where 
t  .ey  i-ai  be  protected  in  winter  ;  while  the  great  glazad  hot  house, 
or  winter  garden  of  the  central  court,  affords  tropical  fruits  and 
fl^w.'rsat  all  seasons;  anl  in  ihe  winter,  and  in  rainy  W3ather  takes 
the  place  of  the  lawn  for  parades  and  festivals. 

1  hal  now  had  a  general  survey  of  the  industry  of  Esperanza 
and  ha  1  learned,  in  the  conversations  held  alternately  with  each  of 
our  party,  and  by  my  observation,  something  of  its  economies 
Every  where  was  order — every  where  the  best  adaptation  of  means 
to  ends  ill  labor-saving  machinery  and  processes  ;  every  where  a 
loving  liarmony  and  enthusiasm. 

As  we  returned  slowly  to  tlie  home,  riding  up  the  slope  through 
a  garden  of  shrubs  and  flowers,  we  opened  upon  a  group  under  a 
grove  of  sprealing  chesnut  trees,  the  most  charming  I  ever  saw  or 
imagined.  An  old  man  of  nearly  eighty  y»ars,  with  hair  and 
b'-ai-d  white  a*?  fiosfed  silv  r,  resting  in  nn  arm  chair,  was  the  center 
of  the  group  ;  around  him  were  gathered  the  youngest  children  and 
babies,  with  tl  eir  nurses  and  care  takers.  The  older  children,  not 
yet  old  enough  fo  join  the  groups  in  the  fields,  but  very  useful 
wi'h  the  babies,  who  were  their  dolls,  were  gathered  around  him, 
and  had  crowned  Idm  with  flowers  Two  chubby  cherubs  were  on 
his  knees,  playing  with  his  beard.  The  children  of  three  to  six 
yenrs  had  formed  a  ring,  and  were  singing  and  dancing  around 
him  ;  while  ti:e  babies  were  rolling  and  crowing  on  the  sward,  or 
in  the  a7m>  of  thi-ir  nurses,  or  riding  around  in  little  carriages.  We 
paused  a  moment  to  contemplate  this   truly  Arcadian  scene ;  then 


liy  K-I'i;KA-\ZA. 

alighted,  and  as  some  boys  flew  to  hold  our  horses,  we  approached 
the  Patriarch,  who  laughed  heartily  as  the  ring  opened  to  let  us 
enter.  The  ladies  kissed  the  old  man  on  his  cheek,  and  inquired 
of  his    health,  an  I  introduced  the  stranger  to  their  good  fatht-r. 

"  Well,  my  darlings,"  said  he  "  never  better,  never  so  well. 
Here  are  the  companions  of  my  second  childhood.  I  grow  younger 
and  younger,  y.iu  see.  More  and  more  a  baby.  So  they  are  my 
proper  play  fellows.  I  shall  go  soun,  you  know,  where  tliey  have 
so  lately  come  from ;  so  it  is  quite  right  we  should  know  each 
other." 

"O,  but  father,"  said  Melodia,  "you  will  stay  with  us  a  good 
whil.e  yet.  This  is  a  pretty  good  heaven,  you  know,  and  we  will 
make  you  as  happy  as  we  can." 

"  You  are  angels  that  would  make  heaven  in  a  less  beautitul 
place  than  this — but  lam  old,  and  not  very  useful  here  ;  I  think  I 
shall  not  be  long  with  you;  is  it  not  so?"  he  Stid,  turning  to 
Harmonia. 

"Yes,  father,"  she  replied,  with  a  calm  joy.  "  Our  friends  expect 
you  soon.  We  shall  attend  you  to  the  portal  of  the  beaudful 
world,  and  they  will  welcome  you." 

Angela,  who  was  standing  by  her  mother,  burst  into  tears.  "  I 
don't  want  our  good  father  to  go  from  us  !  "  she  exclaimed. 

"  I  shall  never  be  separa'el  from  those  I  love,"  said  the  old 
man,  with  a  tremer  in  his  voice ;  but  I  can  be  happier  and  more 
useful  where  I  am  going.  You  know  that,  little  darling,"  he  said, 
lavinar  his  hand  on  Anjrela's  head   who  had  nestled  to  his  side. 

"  Yes,  good  father,  I  know  it  will  be  better  for  you,  and  that 
your  spirit  will  never  leave  your  children." 

"  God  bless  you,  no  ;  my  little  one.  I  will  be  with  you  always. 
You  have  made  my  last  days  happy  ;  I  shall  not  forget  you  in  the 
other  home." 

" You  will  do  well,"  said  Vincent,  "to  watch  over  your  own. 
All  goes  well,  father  ;  and  we  are  preparing  to  welcome  more  to 
our  harmony." 

"  Good  !  —  I  don't  know  whether  1  want  to  stay  most  with  you, 
or    to  go  and  see  our  friends  who  labored  so   long  for   this  result. 


E.PtUAXZA.  1 1 9 

I  shall  be  very  willing  to  i;0.  Young  man,  you  are  welcome,  now," 
said  he,  couneously  to  me,  "and  welcome  back  again;  for  1  see 
that  you  will  not  be  long  away  from  us." 

"No,  father,"  said  Melodia ;  "your  eyes  serve  you  well." 

"  Oh  !  the  old  man  has  n  .t  lost  his  senses,"  he  said,  with  a 
happy  laugh.  We  departed,  and  the  little  ones  again  took  posses- 
sion of  him,  and  replaced  the  wreath  he  had  removed  when  we 
came,  by  a  new  and  more  magnificent  diadem,  and  the  old  man 
tried,  with  his  trembling  voice,  to  join  in  the  chorus  they  were 
si  ging,  as  they  danced  around  him. 

At  ten  o'clock,  three  hours  after  the  day's  work  begun,  there 
was  a  pause  for  rest  and  refreshment ;  and  at  this  time  there  was  a 
gt  neral  interchange  of  employments.  Many  of  those  who  had  been 
at  work  indoors  went  to  the  field-  ;  others  came  from  the  fields  to 
the  store  houses  and  work  shops.  The  builders  and  quariy  men 
went  to  the  harvest,  and  all  the  groups  re-arranged  themselves  for 
the  next  session  of  work,  when  all  went  on  with  the  same  harmo- 
nious enthusiasm,  with  the  added  charm  of  new  companions.  1 
wrote  my  letter  of  \esterday,  describing  our  voyage  on  the  Fairy, 
an  J  our  reception  here. 

At  half  past  one  o'clock  a  signal  gun  suspended  all  labor,  and  the 
bands  returned  merrily  from  field  and  orchard,  garden  and  work- 
slu>ps,  and  all  put  off  their  working  clothes,  bathed,  and  dressed 
for  dinner.  This  was  a  more  elaborate  meal  than  supper  or  breakfast. 
We  had  an  abundance  of  sweet  corn,  sweet  and  common  potatoes, 
green  peas,  eggs  in  various  preparations,  puddings,  jellies  and 
fruits.  I'he  tables  w.  re  arranged  and  dressed  with  exquisite  uiste, 
each  group  vying  with  the  other  for  the  best  display.  Music 
summoned  us  to  this  repast  —  and  when  it  was  over,  we  had  a 
delightful  concert  for  the  repose  of  digestion,  while  little  parties 
sauntered  in  the  shade  of  the  trees  or  buildings,  or  reclined  upon 
the  grass. 

Then  the  drum  beat ;  and  the  lesser  labors  or  recreations  of  the 
af.ernoon  began.  Tlie  boats  were  filled  for  an  excursion  across  the 
1  tke,  and  a  shimming  p  irty.  There  was  a  rehearsal  for  the  even- 
in.,'s  opera.      The  artists  repaired  to  the  ever  attractive  labors  of 


1 23  ESPKRANZA. 

the  stuJio  ;  each  one  joined  the  group  that  pkaseJ  him  b»  st,  and 
did  what  was  his  liighest  attraction.  The  labois  of  the  liist  class, 
those  of  necessity,  were  ended  ;  and  each  one  worked  or  played  as 
he  chose,  until  the  signal  for  the  evening  nual. 

This  Wris  served  partly  in  the  great  >aloon,  p  irtly  in  the  parlors 
of  the  groups  who  wished  to  be  more  secluded.  There  weie  a 
dozen  little  fes  ivals,  and  I  had  the  happiness  of  taking  a  delicate 
repast,  and  enjoying  a  beautiful  society  in  the  group  which  cius.ered 
around  Harmonia.  It  consisted  of  ttn  pusons.  Vincent  and 
H  .imor.ia  sat  opi  osite  each  o  her  ;  at  Vi  cent's  right  hand  sat 
Melodia  ;  at  his  left,  S'  rafa.  a  woman  or  girl,  a  few  years  yoi  nger 
than  MpIo  lia,  and  less  beautif  1,  but  one  who  impressed  you  as  a 
peison  of  rare  endowments,  and  a  highly  poetical  temperaiiM  nt. 
She  seemed  plain  till  I  found  the  dep  h  of  her  gray  t  yes  ;  and  her 
low  voi^'e  WIS  full  of  enthusiasm.  She  is  the  poet  of  this  home.  The 
oppra  p'^f  irme.l  last  night  was  her  libretto,  all  but  'wo  or  three 
songs  by  Melodia.  1  sat  next  her,  and  at  my  left  was  E  valine,  the 
eldi  St  daughter  of  our  hostess  ;  smaller  tlian  her  mother,  pale,  with 
light  hair,  a  lovely  figure,  but  a  face  capable  of  ihe  whole  range 
of  expn  ssion  from  ugliness  to  beauty,  and  becoming  quite  dazling 
with  the  excitement  of  enthusia-m  or  pleasure.  She  is  an  arist, 
and  somewhat  of  a  musician,  but  art  is  her  ^upreme  attrac  ion,  and 
she  woikswitH  grea'.  enthusia-m,  and  also  with  great  pa  ience, 
instructing  all  who  will  learn,  and  having  around  hera  large  group 
of  loving  and  devoted  pupils. 

Oppo  ite  me  sat  Alfred,  and  at  his  right  hund  Eug(  n:a,  who 
develops  more  character,  and  a  higher  beau'y  each  time  1  see  her. 
She  is  o  cairn  and  wi-<e,  that  the  most  tuib;  lent  might  find  her 
pres'^nc  a  repose,  and  the  weakest  find  s  rength  in  hi  r  firm  will. 
Nex  her,  and  at  the  left  of  Harmonia,  sat  a  sculptor  and  arch  tec', 
who  I  as  designed  mos'  of  the  buildino-s  and  ornaments,  nf  which 
I  shall  give  you  a  description  heivaf.er ;  and  on  her  hft  a  rr.an 
who  impressed  me  with  his  integ  ity  and  reliability,  and  Avho,  1 
unders  ood,  fills  the  important  place  of  balance  holder,  accountant, 
or  an  embodied  justice  in  the  domain  —  the  referee,  the  nconciler  ; 
H  man  of  equity,  who  has  the  faculty  of  making  the  riglit  of  every 


EsPERAKZA.  I L'  1 

case  so  evident,  that  there  is  never  any  wish  to  appeal  from  his 
decision. 

I  felt  the  beautiful  sphere  of  this  company  like  a  rich  harmony 
around  me.  I  knew  that  a  most  loving  life  circled  among  them  ; 
and  I  could  ftel  no  discord  —  but  I  had  evidently  the  place  of  some 
one  who  would  have  completed  the  circle,  and  sat  in  my  place, 
between  Evaline  &nd  Serafa. 

"Who  do  I  keep  away?"  I  asked  of  the  latter,  when  we  had 
become  a  little  acquainted. 

"  Oh,  no  one  that  would  be  here.  Our  Paid  has  found  a  tree, 
or  a  rock,  or  a  bit  of  moss,  that  holds  him  by  too  strong  an 
attraction.  He  is  doing  very  well  somewhere,  and  our  gallery  will 
be  all  the  richer  for  his  absence." 

So  Paul  was  also  an  artist  and  an  enthusiast,  somewhere  at  hii* 
work. 

Our  repast  was  slight,  and  very  simple.  Boiled  rice  with 
banana  syrup,  a  quince  jelly,  some  little  crisp  cakes,  and  a  single 
glass  of  the  purest  white  wine,  delicate,  aromatic,  and  almost 
sweet,  something  like  the  finest  champaign,  without  the  sparkle, 
was  all  that  was  taken.  There  was  conversation,  in  low,  quiet 
tones ;  a  repose  of  being  that  was  very  beautiful  to  me.  There 
was  not  the  least  constraint  or  excitement,  or  eflfort  at  display. 
The  news  of  the  outside  world,  particularly  the  literary  and  artistic 
news,  was  discussed.  The  opinions  expressed  of  authors  and 
artists,  and  the  leaders  of  movements,  were  singularly  just  and 
appreciative.  Nearly  the  whole  conversation  was  general.  Scarce- 
ly for  a  moment  did  any  two  subside  into  a  tete  a  tete.  You  can 
imagine  such  a  circle  of  refined,  cultivated,_^  intelligent  persons, 
adapted  to  each  other,  without  a  single  one  discordant  or  tiresome ; 
but  can  you  imagine  such  a  company,  all  loving  each  other,  in 
perfect  harmony,  and  with  the  happiness  of  this  love  increased  by 
this  harmonization  ?  I  could  not  see  that  my  presence  was  any  bar 
to  their  enjoyment.  My  acceptance  by  one  seemed  to  have  made  me 
at  home  with  all ;  and  though  I  am  but  a  neophyte,  on  my  proba- 
tion, they  feel  assured,  as  they  well  may,  that  I  shall  never  be 
satisfied  with  any  other  life  than  this,  of  which  I  am  allowed  a 
11 


122  ESPERANZA. 

foretaste.  If  I  doubted  you  I  should  not  enjoy  it — but  how  can 
I  doubt  that  you  are  even  more  ready  than  I  for  a  life  of  truth  and 
harmony,  and  that  you  will  joyfully  escape  from  the  world  of 
falsity,  selfishness,  and  discordance,  which  you  see  and  feel  around 
you? 

After  our  half  hour  at  supper,  we  heard  a  little  trampling  of  feet 
and  then  a  gentle  knock  at  the  door,  when  our  circle  was  enlarged 
by  the  entrance  of  the  two  lovely  children,  Angela  and  the  little 
Vincent.  Vincent  carried  a  bouquet  of  fragrant  flowers  to  Harmonia, 
while  Angela  gave  hers  to  Melodia. 

"  Didn't  you  mean  this  for  papa?"  asked  Melodia. 

"  Yes,  1  meant  it  for  both  of  you,  and  for  all ;  but  only  one  can 
hold  it,  and  you  are  the  one  who  should  hold  flowers."  Then  she 
sat  in  the  lap  of  Vincent,  and  reaching  over  to  Serafa,  said,  "but 
I  have  a  kiss  for  you." 

"And  what  for  me,  my  sister  ?  "  asked  Evaline. 

"  Love  for  you,  always,  for  teaching  me  so  patiently  to-day.  And 
Melodia  has  taught  me  music.  Oh!  mamma!"  turning  to 
Harmonia,  "one  tune  on  your  mvisic  box,  please.  Mr.  Frank,  are 
you  musical  ?" 

"A  little,  my  dear." 

"When  you  come  and  stay  with  us,  you  shall  be  my  lover  in  an 
opera,  and  sing  you  are  jealous,  and  stab  me,  or  I'll  stab  you,  just 
as  the  foolish  people  do — " 

"In  operas,"  said  Harmonia,  interrupting  her. 

"  Oh,  no,  mamma ;  not  in  operas  only,  but  in  the  world.  I  have 
been  reading  history,  the  past  week,  in  the  library,  and  there  is 
plenty  of  such  savagism." 

And  now,  as  the  sun  was  descending,  we  heard  the  music  ot  the 
band,  and  joined  the  groups,  who  were  assembling  to  give  Aim 
their  adieus. 

"It  is  so  hard,"  said  Serafa,  who  had  taken  my  arm,  "to  think 
that  all  round  the  earth  he  will  not  shine  on  such  a  Home  as  this  !" 

"  We  must  be  patient  of  growth,"  said  Vincent,  who  was  neai 
us:  "all  the  future  is  ours,  and  the  work  is  now  begun.  Think  of 
the  time  when  the  sun  will  shine  only  on  homes  as  happy  as  ours." 


EsPERANZA.  123 

*•  But  a  whole  planet  to  be  transformed  ! " 

"  Yes,  and  a  whole  planet  once  had  to  be  formed.  Our  ancestors, 
some  centuries  back,  were  painted  savages,  ferocious  as  the  beasts 
they  extirpated.     Now  they  are  civilizees." 

"Are  civilizees  so  much  better  than  savages  ? "  I  ventured  to  ask. 

"  Yes ;  it  is  worse  to  knock  a  man  on  the  head  than  only  to  pick 
his  pocket.  It  is  progress  ;  and  the  way  from  savagism  to  harmony 
is  through  the  discordance  of  civilization  ;  and  a  high  harmony 
cannot  come  without  it ;  for  civilization  has  given  us  all  we  have 
of  industry,  art,  and  their  capabilities.  They  are  worth  all  they 
have  cost." 

It  was  the  evening  parade.  The  sun  sank  in  glory.  The  music 
repeated  the  golden  clouds,  and  the  deepening  shadows,  and  all  the 
mild  and  softening  splendors  of  the  scene  ;  and  the  magnificent 
choral,  as  the  last  rays  fell  athwart  our  assembly,  was  in  keeping 
with  its  tranquil  grandeur.  The  evening  gun  was  fired,  and  the 
flag  descended. 

The  groups  lingered  a  little  in  the  twilight,  and  watched  tne 
coming  of  the  early  stars  ;  but  all  were  soon  busy  in  preparing  for 
the  evening's  amusement,  the  opera,  which  I  must  now  attempt  to 
describe  to  you.  This,  you  know,  is  the  crowning  triumph  of 
civilization.  It  is,  indeed,  a  partial  harmonization  ;  a  composite 
pleasure,  adapted  to  refined  and  cultivated  tastes,  and  combining 
a  great  variety,  and  a  high  order  of  enjoyments.  The  opera  gives 
us  poetry,  music,  painting,  dramatic  situaiion  and  action,  dancing, 
often  military  evolutions,  and  such  forms  of  life,  energy,  beauty 
and  passion,  as  the  poet  and   composer  may  combine. 

As  the  night  closed  around  us,  all  but  the  youngest  children, 
their  care-takers,  and  the  first  relay  of  the  night  watch,  repaired  to 
the  opera.  The  large  assembly-room  had  been  changed  into  a 
beautiful  theatre,  with  an  ample  stage,  orchestra,  and  all  needed 
appointments.  A  band  of  twenty  one  musicians,  led  by  Vincent, 
played  the  overture,  and  the  curtain  rose  on  a  performance,  less 
powerful  and  effective,  perliaps,  than  some  that  we  have  seen  and 
heard  at  the  Academy  of  Music,  but  more  interesting  and  beautiful 
to  me.    Melodia  was  Prima  Donna  assoluta  ;  next  her  was  E valine. 


i  24  EsPERANZA. 

who  proved  a  charming  contralto,  and  Laura  ;  the  male  characters 
"were  supported  by  the  truant  Paul,  a  delicate  tenor;  Alfred, 
baritone ;  Edgar,  buflb ;  and  Manlins,  a  noble  basso.  It  was  in 
two  acts  of  an  hour  each  with  a  most  vivacious  and  sociable  in- 
termission ;  with  dancing  in  each  act,  executed  by  a  small,  but  very 
nicely  trained  cor/)s  de  ballet.  The  chorus  was  full  and  effective — 
perfect,  indeed,  in  time  and  harmony. 

Thus  there  were  eighty  persons  engaged  on  the  stage,  and  in 
the  orchestra,  including  twenty  boys,  who  figured  with  great  eclat, 
first  as  a  corps  of  soldiers,  and  afterwards  as  fairies ;  and  who 
marched,  and  performed  their  evolutions  and  exercises  with 
wonderful  precision. 

The  audience  was  as  interesting  to  me  as  the  performers.  They 
were  dressed  with  elegance,  and  taste,  but  with  great  freedom  and 
variety.  Close  around  the  stage,  in  the  front  seats,  gathered  the 
juvenile  portion ;  and  their  enjoyment  was  the  keenest,  and  their 
plaudits  and  encores  the  most  vociferous  ;  and  when  the  encore 
was  not  suflicent,  their  exclamations  of  "0,  once  more,"  "please 
once  more!"  were  exquisite.  I  sat  with  Harmonia,  who,  not  mu- 
sical herself,  enjoys  music  with  all  the  capability  of  her  sensitive 
organization — exquisitely  sensitive  both  to  harmony  and  discord — 
to  plt^asure  and  to  pain.  Serafa  and  Angelo,  the  sculptor,  were  near 
me,  and  I  was  pleased  to  see  that  the  poet  enjoyed  as  well  as  any  one, 
her  OAvn  creation,  so  far  as  it  was  hers,  for  she  assured  me  that  it 
owed  almost  every  thing  to  Melodia,  who  had  written  the  best 
songs  ;  to  Vincent,  who,  with  her,  had  composed  the  music,  and  to 
the  suggestions  of  others.  I  will  not  describe  the  plot.  It  opens 
with  a  scene  in  civilization.  There  are  three  lovers,  each  loving 
by  turns,  or  all  together,  three  mistresses,  which  leads  to  jealousy, 
quarrel^,  attempts  at  assassination,  poisonings,  prison,  and  misery 
enough.  The  first  act  ends  very  unhappily.  But  an  enchanter 
takes  the  affair  in  hand,  and  in  the  second,  they  find  themselves  on 
an  enchanted  Island,  a  scene  in  fairy  land,  where  the  queen  of  the 
fairies,  by  a  potent  spell,  allays  all  jealousy,  and  after  a  few  eflforts 
and  some  relapses,  they  all  concluded  to  love  each  other,  after  the 
fashion  of  Fairy  Land,  and  all  ends  happily. 


EsPERAXZA.  125 

This  was  worked  out  with  a  delicacy  and  truthfulness  of  which 
you  can  have  little  conception.  The  scenery  and  appointments  of 
the  stag-e  had  been  prepared  with  care,  and  the  whole  performance 
was  full  of  the  enthusiasm  of  real  artists.  The  performers  were 
called  out  in  due  form  at  the  close  of  each  act  and  pelted  with  flow- 
ers. Then  the  composer  and  author  were  called  for,  and  crowned. 
It  was  a  genuine  ovation  ;  after  which  all  went  happily  to  rest. 

I  accompanied  Harmonia  to  her  apartments,  with  Serafa  and 
Raphael.  Soon  came  Vincent  and  Melodia ;  she  still  in  the  cos- 
tume and  jewels  of  the  stage,  and  wearing  her  crown  of  flowers. 
Never  had  she  seemed  more  radiant  than  now.  Vincent  was 
sparkling  with  a  refined  wit ;  and  both  put  their  arms  around  the 
modest  Serafa,  and  congratulated  her  on  the  success  ;  but  while  she 
accepted  their  praises,  she  gave  them  all  the  credit  they  deserved. 
In  oar  world,  artists  and  singers  are  too  often  selfish  and  jealous, 
for  these  subverted  passions  are  every  where,  poisoning  all  rela- 
tions— but  I  saw  none  here.  Alfred  and  Eveline,  Laura  and  Paul, 
now  joined  us,  and  all  broughi,  siools  and  cushions,  and  gathered 
around  Harmonia,  and  talked  over  the  evening's  pleasant  work. 
Vincent  made  chocolate,  Laura  brought  some  cakes,  and  we  supped 
together ;  and  as  quiet  succeeded  to  the  excitement  of  the  evening, 
all  joined  w  th  clasped  hands  and  blissful  tears,  in  a  simple,  gentle 
good  night  song,  and  all  went,  I  could  not  doubt,  to  a  blissful  re- 
pose. 

And  I  to  mine,  my  Clara  !  Alone,  but  very  happy  ; — alone,  but 
ensphered  in  the  harmony  of  the  loving  life  around  me  ,  — alone, 
but  resting  in  the  hope,  that  not  many  months  will  elapse,  before 
you  will  be  here,  to  rest  in  my  bosom,  and  share  with  me  chis  par- 
adise. 


VIII. 

HABMOmA. 

My  Claea  ; — I  wish  to  give  you,  as  freshly  as  I  can,  and  before 
one  emotion  has  obliterated  the  impression  of  another,  each  day's 
experience  of  my  trial  of  this  new  life.  So  1  write  on  from  day  to 
day,  and  shall  send  the  package  by  the  weekly  mail,  sent  by  a 
messenger  to  the  nearest  post  office. 

My  slumbers  had  not  been  disturbed  by  any  seranade,  unless  it 
were  the  music  of  the  opera,  which  came  back  in  dreams  ;  and  I 
woke  with  the  first  clear  bugle  note,  the  salutation  to  Aurora, 
bathed,  and  joined  the  parade  at  sunrise.  I  am  not  an  early  riser 
from  habit,  and  a  sunrise  is  a  novel  spectacle  ;  but  I  find  here  an 
impulse  and  attraction  which  I  cannot  resist.  There  is  a  fresh  spirit 
in  ihis  morning  assembly,  a  vigor  of  vitality,  which  inspires  me. 
Is  it  4he  magnetism  of  the  esprit  de  corps  which  animates  every 
member  of  this  society  ?  No  regulation  demands  the  presence  of 
any ;  there  is  no  compulsion,  any  more  than  there  is  to  labor — no 
external  force,  but  in  each  case  an  attraction  of  abundant  potency. 
No  discipline  demands  it ;  no  roll  is  called  ;  there  are  no  fines  as- 
sessed, or  penalties  inflicted ;  yet  you  can  see  and  feel  that  no  man, 
woman,  or  child  of  sufficient  age,  would  willingly  be  absent. 

Each  day  is  a  new  life,  and  has  new  achievements.  The  order 
is  also  difiierent  for  each  day.  This  morning,  for  example,  the  band 
had  another  leader  ;  the  morning  choral  was  different,  and  the  order 
of  the  day  was  called  by  Melodia,  with  different  leaders  in  nearly 
all  the  groups  of  industry.  The  groups  also,  were  all  freshly 
arranged ;  and  if  any  one  had  failed  to  be  present,  his  place  would 
have  been  filled  by  some  ready  volunteer. 

I  observed  that  the   hardest   and   most  repugnant  labors   were 

sought  as  posts  of  honor,  as  the  bravest  soldiers  volunteer  for  the 
126 


ESPERANZA.  127 

most  dangerous  duties.  Approbativeness  finds  here  its  legitimate 
action.  The  night-watch,  and  other  posts  of  responsibility,  are 
also  places  of  honor,  to  which  only  the  most  trusty  and  devoted 
are  elegible. 

As  Melodia  had  directed  the  music,  and  the  Order  of  the  Day, 
she  also  gave  the  morning  lecture.  It  was  a  beautiful  statement 
of  the  political  and  social  movements,  tending  to  the  progress  of 
humanity,  which  she  had  observed  during  her  recent  journey. 
Many  eyes  sparkled,  as  she  told  of  the  rapid  spread  of  the  prin- 
ciples of  their  organization.  She  inspired  the  enthusiasm  of  hope 
in  those  who  wish  to  see  the  happiness  they  enjoy  extended  to  all 
humanity,  as  fast  as  men  can  be  prepared  to  receive  it. 

Even  in  our  latitude,  we  know  how  delicious  are  fruits  in  the 
morning.  It  is  even  more  so  here,  or  else  the  fruits  are  of  a  richer 
flavor.  Those  which  loaded  the  breakfast  tables  were  fresh  and 
delicious ;  and  I  made  my  breskfast  almost  entirely  on  melons, 
peaches,  and  plums.  After  the  groups  of  industry  had  gone  to 
their  labors,  I  wrote  to  you,  until  it  was  time  to  meet  an  appoint- 
ment with  Harmonia,  who  had  invited  me  to  make  her  a  visit  this 
morning. 

I  found  her  in  her  own  parlor,  study,  or  boudoir,  for  it  is  all  com- 
bined. She  held  out  her  left  hand  to  me  as  she  laid  down  her  pen 
with  the  right,  and  when  I  sat  on  a  low  ottoman  beside  her,  she 
laid  her  thin  pale  hand  on  my  head,  and  said  :  "Are  you  a  good 
boy  to-day  ?  "  I  think  young  men  do  not  usually  like  to  be  called 
or  considered  boys  ;  but  I  was  very  grateful  for  this  maternal 
recognition.  I  only  kissed  her  other  hand,  and  looked  up  with  a 
smile. 

"  And  do  you  think  the  little  one  you  have  left  is  as  good  as 
you?  "     She  asked,  with  a  serious  look. 

It  was  you,  Clara,  she  meant  by  the  little  one.  I  told  her  of  my 
great  faith  in  you,  and  my  great  love  for  you.  "  Yet  it  is  a  hard 
trial,"  she  said,  "  for  the  absent  one.  She  is  lonely  and  desolate 
— you  have  the  excitement  of  new  scenes,  and  the  interest  of  new 
friends.  Have  you  been  quite  frank  with  her  in  your  letters  ?  It 
is  well  that  you  have,"  she  continued,  when  I  assured  her  that  I 


128  EsPERANZA. 

had  written  every  thought  and  feeling  to  you ;  "  for  though  the 
trial  may  be  sharp  and  difficult  to  bear,  neither  of  you  can  afford 
the  expense  of  deceit." 

'•  1  have  been  true  as  truth,"  I  said. 

"And  you  hope,"  she  continued  quietly,  "that  she  has  borne 
it  as  well  as  you  would  have  done,  were  she  now  here,  and  you  at 
home  in  her  place." 

0  my  Clara  !  I  was  rebuked  and  humbled  by  the  consciousness 
that  I  could  not  have  borne  this  trial  as  I  have  wished  you  to  bear 
it ;  and  were  I  not  sure  that  you  are  better  than  I  feel  myself  to  be, 
I  should  fear  that  I  have  made  you  suffer  more  than  I  can  tell ;  for 
it  all  came  over  me  in  a  moment — all  the  loneliness,  all  the  fear, 
all  the  agony,  I  might  have  endured.  And  yet,  0  beloved !  I 
have  been  true  to  the  deep  love  of  my  heart  for  you  all  the  mo- 
ments.    May  you  so  feel  it. 

Harmonia  saw  how  troubled  I  was  at  the  thought  she  had 
suggested,  and  said  with  a  smile,  "  We,  who  are  children  of 
Providences,  are  not  tried  beyond  our  strength  to  bear.  The  angels 
who  have  led  you  to  us,  have  filled  the  loving  heart  with  the  con- 
solation of  trust.  If  she  is  to  oome  to  us  with  you,  she,  like  you, 
must  have  her  preparation.  She  must  understand,  and  lovingly 
accept  our  life  of  truth  and  freedom.  Do  not  fear  to  be  as  frank 
to  her  as  you  have  been  hitherto.  Let  her  know  all  our  life  that 
comes  to  you,  that  she  may  accept  it  as  you  accept  it." 

"  I  accept  and  welcome  jnyfully  all  1  see  and  comprehend  of  it," 
I  answered  ;  "  but  how  it  has  come  to  you,  and  how  it  exists,  I  do 
not  yet  understand." 

"  This  is  the  lesson  you  have  come  to  learn,  and  all  here  will  be 
your  teachers.     Shall  I  begin  my  lesson  ?  " 

"I  would  drink  at  the  fountain,"  I  answered. 

"The  rains,  and  the  hidden  sources  supply  the  fountain,"  said 
she  ;  "  I  have  been  but  the  instrument  of  this  work.  The  thought 
and  the  love  were  born  ;  and  the  world  groaned  with  its  great 
needs.  Civilization,  with  all  its  progress,  and  all  its  triumphs, 
had  never  satisfied  the  social  wants  of  man. 

"  At  last,  the  harmony,  sought  in  vain  on  earth,  descended  from 


ESPEBANZA.  1 29 

the  heavens.  The  angels,  in  the  higher  spheres,  live  in  harmony : 
and  the  germ  fell  into  the  hearts  of  a  few  who  could  receive  it 
humbly  and  joyfully,  and  give  it  the  conditions  of  growth.  We 
sought  for  freedom  and  truth  in  all  relations,  and  especially  in  the 
relations  of  love,  and  all  that  cluster  around  them.  With  a  sino-le 
devotion  to  this  work,  we  accepted  for  it  the  consecration  of  our 
lives,  receiving  into  our  group  only  those  who  could  join  in  this 
consecration.  Our  lives  were  thus  made  pure  and  fitted  for  har- 
mony ;  for  we  had  seen  that  there  could  be  no  social  harmony, 
until  the  faculties  of  the  individuals  composing  it  were  first  har- 
monized." 

" It  is  of  this  harmonization,"  I  said,  "that  I  wish  to  know. 
By  what  process  was  it  attained  ?  " 

"  We  endeavored  to  free  ourselves  from  every  thing  discordant 
in  our  lives,  and  to  put  away  all  hindrances  to  harmony.  Our 
minds  were  freed  from  all  prejudices  and  superstitions,  so  that  we 
could  receive  the  truth.  We  rejected  the  false  gods,  that  we  might 
accept  the  true.  Individual  freedom  came  to  us,  as  the  first  con- 
dition of  this  purification.  To  be  able  to  do  any  thing,  we  must 
be  free  to  do  it — free  in  ourselves,  and  free  from  all  control  or 
influence  of  others.  So  we  became  self-centered  and  self-govern- 
ed beings.  We  sought  physical  purity,  or  health,  by  pure  habits, 
and  the  disuse  of  ail  diseasing  aliments.  So  the  germinal  group 
became  purified." 

"  And  all  bonds  were  severed  ?  " 

"All  false  ones  fell  from  us;  all  arbitary  restraints  of  law  and 
custom  we  put  away  when  we  passed  to  a  higher  plane  of  life, 
where  they  were  no  longer  of  any  use,  but  only  encumbrances. 
Thus  marriage,  as  a  legal  bond,  had  no  more  use  to  us.  If  a 
love  relation  was  a  true  one,  we  needed  no  legal  bond — if  false,  we 
could  not  be  compelled  to  live  the  lie.  Our  higher  law  was  to  live 
the  true  life — in  all  things  to  cease  to  do  evil,  and  learn  to  do  well. 

"  In  the  consecration  of  our  lives,  during  this  period  of  probation 
and  germination,  when  the  central  group  of  this  society  was  form- 
ing, and  when  all  the  energy  and  power  of  our  lives  was  needed  in 
the  work  of  growth,  our  love  became  spiritual,  to  the  exclusion  of 


130  EsPERANZA. 

the  sensual  element,  or  the  material  union.  We  formed  a  sacred 
vestalate.  It.  was  necessary  that  the  harmony  of  love  should  come 
to  us  on  the  spiritual  plane,  before  we  could  be  fitted  for  it  on  the 
material.  In  all  this  we  were  guided  by  the  wisdom  of  the  Hea- 
vens, which  we  received  with  reverence  and  lived  to  with  devotion. 
So  it  was,  my  friend,  that  those  who  came  to  us  were  of  the  same 
life,  entering  into  a  perfect  accord  with  us,  in  a  loving  harmony, 
the  fruits  of  which  you  see  around  you." 

"And  there  came  no  jealousy  —  no  discord?" 

"Jealousy  and  discord  were  severed  from  us,  or  they  severed 
from  us  all  who  were  not  ready  for  harmony.  The  selfish  only  are 
jealous.  It  is  tlie  passion  of  claim  or  ownership.  When  we 
renounced  all  claim  to,  or  ownership  of,  each  other,  there  was 
no  longer  any  ground  for  jealousy  ;  and  when  this  principle  had 
been  extended  to  all  things,  there  was  no  cause  of  discord.  When 
the  harmony  was  established  in  our  little  group  of  earnest  and 
devoted  lovers,  they  drew  others  to  them,  of  whom  other  groups 
were  formed,  until  we  were  strong  enough  to  seek  our  Home 
which  Providence  had  given  us." 

"  And  all  came  here  ?" 

"  First,  the  central  group,  and  a  band  of  pioneers,  to  build,  and 
plant,  and  prepare.  Then  the  groups  who  were  harmonized  with 
us.  You  will  better  learn  the  details  of  the  work  from  others. 
My  work  has  been  to  harmonize  the  interior  life,  and  to  be  the 
medium  of  the  spiritual  society,  in  the  heavenly  life,  which  it  is 
our  work  to  represent  in  the  Earth-Life." 

She  sat  a  moment  in  silence  —  then  binding  a  fillet  over  her  eyes, 
she  held  my  hand.  A  tremor  passed  over  her,  and  she  smiled  and 
said  :  "  A  lovely  woman  is  standing  beside  you ;  she  is  t<all  and 
graceful,  with  blue  eyes  and  curling  auburn  hair :  she  has  a  deep 
dimple  in  her  left  cheek  :  she  bends  over  and  kisses  your  hair. 
She  says  she  is  your  mother ;  that  she  guided  you  to  Melodia, 
and  so  to  us  ;  and  that  she  will  not  leave  you  until  you  are  one  of 
ours.  She  watches  over  the  beautiful  one  at  home,  and  consoles 
her,  and  is  preparing  her,  with  your  help,  to  come  to  us.  She  says 
there  is  a  good  work  for  you  to  do  in  the  future,  both  in  the  world 


ESPERANZA.  131 


and  in  Harmony,  and  that  you  will  be  the  instrument  of  bringing 
many  into  the  True  Life :  and  Earthly  Harmony,  which  is  but  the 
prelude  to  the  Grander  Harmonies  of  the  Life  of  the  Heavens. 
She  kisses  you,  and  she  smiles  upon  us  —  and  I  see  her  no  more." 

I  did  not  doubt  that  it  was  the  spirit  of  my  dear  mother. 
True,  there  was  no  test — she  might  have  had  her  description  from 
Melodia  —  but  there  was  the  internal  conviction  of  truthfulness  and 
reality  which  was  worth  all  tests.  My  mother  still  lives  ;  surely, 
if  living,  she  comes  to  her  child ;  and  why  should  not  this  woman, 
so  pure,  so  spiritual,  so  gifted,  be  clairvoyant  enough  to  see  her. 
It  is  but  one  spirit  seeing  another. 

She  removed  the  fillet  from  her  eyes,  and  said,  "I  am  very  glad 
your  mother  has  come  to  me,  for  it  confirms  our  acceptance  of 
you,  and  our  belief  in  your  usefulness.  Use  your  time  here  dili- 
gently ;  see  all  you  can  of  our  life,  and  try  to  live  in  its  spirit. 
Live  in  unity  with  those  you  most  love  on  the  earth,  and  in  the 
heavens.  When  we  taught  freedom,  a  sensual  world  accused  us  of 
licentiousness  ;  you  will  find  in  it  the  removal  of  all  hindrances  to 
the  highest  and  most  heavenly  life.  Our  life  here  is  not  perfect, 
but  progressive.     Every  day  it  grows  more  beautiful," 

"  Ah  !  but  the  great  world,  and  all  its  miseries.  Can  you  enjoy 
all  this  plenty  and  happiness,  and  not  think  of  others?"   I  asked^ 

"We  do  think  and  we  act.  It  has  been  our  high  mission  to  show 
mankind  the  possibility  of  a  harmonic  society,  free  from  all  the 
cares,  discords,  and  miseries  of  civilization.  The  work  is  nearly 
done.  The  experiment,  or  working  model  of  such  an  association 
is  accomplished,  and,  after  an  earnest  trial  of  five  years,  you  see  its 
success.  Could  we  have  done  so  well  for  the  world  by  any  other 
means  ? 

"  VVe  cannot  open  our  doors  to  unprepared  and  discordant  civili- 
zees,  with  their  present  habits  and  vices  of  thought  and  life.  It 
would  peril  all.  Could  we  have  a  flesh-eater  with  his  butcherings  ; 
a  tobacco  user,  poisoning  our  atmosphere ;  a  bigot  with  his  perse- 
cuting spirit,  willing  to  commence  on  earth  the  tortures  he  believes 
to  be  in  store  in  future  for  all  who  are  not  of  his  creed  ;  a  domestic 
despot,  holding  property  in  a  wife  or  husband — in  the  life  and 


132  ESPERANZA, 

soul  of  another  ?  Do  you  not  know  tliat  a  single  untuned 
instrument,  or  unskillful  player,  will  make  discord  in  the  finest 
orchestra  ?  So  would  it  be  with  us.  We  cannot  destroy  our 
woi4,  but  we  can  perfect  and  extend  it ;  and  we  shall  be  ready- 
soon  to  receive  such  groups  as  are  forming  and  attuning  them- 
selves to  our  harmony;  and  when  our  number  is  complete,  you 
and  others  will  be  ready  to  form  the  germ  of  another  association. 
Meantime  our  thought  is  finding  its  way  to  many  minds,  and  the 
love  of  a  pure  and  integral  freedom  to  many  hearts.  Many  will  soon 
be  ready  to  graduate  out  of  civilization,  and  the  movement  will  go 
on  with  an  accelerating  momentum. 

"  But  nothing  must  be  done  hastily  or  rudely.  We  do  not  give 
concerts  witli  a  band  of  beginners  in  music.  And  we  must  guard 
with  care  the  tender  plants  of  harmony.  You  can  see  well,  how 
all  previous  attempts  have  been  fiiilures  of  necessity.  There  must 
be  no  more  with  us." 

"  I  know  that  all  have  failed,  but  I  have  not  seen  the  reason." 

"  In  every  case  there  have  been  many  causes  of  discord,  any  one 
of  which  was  enough  to  drive  asunder  those  who  wished  for 
harmony,  and  not  an  aggregation,  and  aggravation  of  discords. 
Disease  is  a  burthen,  and  all  civilization  is  full  of  disease.  Mar- 
riage and  the  family,  the  central  institution  of  civilization,  is 
unFuited  to  any  other  social  state.  A  single  family  here,  living 
in  the  usual  relation  of  husband  and  wife,  parents  and  children, 
would  destroy  our  harmony.  In  a  true  society,  self-ownership  and 
self-governmnet,  and  the  mutual  adaptation  and  responsiblity  of 
each  to  all,  and  all  to  each,  must  pervade  the  whole  body.  We 
have  no  married  couples;  no  lamily  jars;  no  education  in  discor- 
dances.    But  you  will  see  all  this  better  than  I  can  tell  you. 

"  Well,  does  this  hurt  you  ?  Do  not  be  troubled  for  the  little 
one.  Her  instincts  are  more  to  be  trusted  than  your  reason.  Have 
you  a  confession  to  make  ?  " 

It  was  not  strange  that  she  asked  this  question  now,  for  my  head 
was  bowed  in  a  profound  sorrow.  I  told  her,  frankly,  that  1  had 
thought  of  you,  and  that  I  could  not  endure  the  idea  of  your 
loving  another. 


EsPERANZA.  133 

"No,"  she  said,  with  a  tender  smile,  "you  want  the  dear  one 
all  to  youiself.  Well,  find  a  nice  cottage,  with  a  pretty  garden,  a 
horse  and  cow,  and  have  it  as  you  will.  If  she  were  here,  she 
might  love  Vincent,  or  Angela,  or  Alfred,  as  much,  perhaps,  as 
you  love  Melodia,  or  might  love  Serafa,  or  Evaline,  or  me,  even  — 
who  knows  ?" 

I  laughed.  It  was  too  ridiculous.  I  was  ashamed  of  my 
inconsistency  and  absurdity. 

"  Come,  we  have  talked  enough  here,"  she  said,  rising  from 
her  easy  chair ;  "you  shall  go  and  help  me  work  now." 

We  went  to  a  portion  of  the  garden,  where  a  multitude  of  roses, 
of  the  most  fragrant  kinds  were  blooming.  A  group  of  young 
girls  and  children  were  busily  and  merrily  at  work,  gathering  the 
petals  of  the  fully  opened  floAvers  into  baskets,  which,  as  fast  as 
filled,  were  carried  into  a  room,  for  the  manufacture  of  perfumery. 
I  saw  that  the  roses,  and  other  odorous  flowers  cultivated  so  pro- 
fusely were  not  alojpe  for  ornament,  but  were  converted,  by  a  pleasant 
and  most  attractive  industry,  into  many  rich  and  delicate  perfumes, 
which  yieideii  a  handsome  revenue.  So  we  worked,  picking  roses, 
and  one  of  the  young  ladies,  an  adept  in  botany  and  vegetable 
chemistry,  ex,.lained  to  me  the  processes — how  some  odors  were 
separated  by  the  fixed  oils,  and  others  by  distillation,  and  how  they 
were  combined  to  form  the  various  mixtures  of  the  toilette. 

Farther  on  were  groves  of  the  sun-flower,  so  arranged  as  to  give 
great  richness  to  the  landscape,  and  whose  seeds,  gathered  by  a 
group  of  juveniles,  and  submitted  to  a  hydraulic  press,  a  mys- 
terious power  they  were  delighted  to  exercise  and  explain,  yielded 
a  large  supply  of  a  pure  oil,  for  various  uses  ;  after  which  the  seed 
cakes  was  conveyed  to  the  poultry  yard. 

Flowers,  useful  for  show  alone,  were  cultivated  sparingly,  but 
the  odorous  one  in  great  abundance.  We  found  great  beds  of  the 
heliotrope,  the  white  lily,  the  lemon  verbena,  and  the  sweet 
voilet,  all  used  in  perfumes.  Here,  also,  were  groves  of  the  mao-- 
nolia,  and  flowering  lo  ust,  whose  blossoms  they  make  as  profitable 
as  the  fruit  of  other  trees  ;  while  they  are,  in  their  season,  the  glory 
of  the  landscape. 


134  ESPEEANZA. 

After  two  "hour's  of  work,  which  Harmonia  counted  for  four  to 
her,  since  I  had  helped  her,  we  went  to  meet  the  returning  har- 
vesters, with  whom  Vincent  and  Melodia  had  been  at  work.  How 
rosy  and  beautiful  she  looked,  in  her  blouse  and  trousers,  with  her 
broad  hat  wreathed  with  wild  flowers,  intermingled  with  heads  of 
wheat.     She  welcomed  us,  like  a  queen  returning  from  a  victory. 

And  now  the  returning  bands  gathered  to  the  home,  and  the 
waters  flowed,  and  all  were  dressed  for  the  dinner  festival. 

As  we  ate  our  strawberries,  which  by  a  careful  culture  and  irriga- 
tion are  made  to  produce  fruit  the  whole  season,  and  I  sat  by  Evaline, 
Harmonia  said  to  her :  "  My  dear,  I  think  that  Mr.  Wilson  and  I 
will  pay  you  a  visit  this  afternoon,  if  agreeable." 

Evaline  looked  at  her  mother,  and  then  at  Vincent  and  Melodia, 
before  answering  ;  then,  as  if  the  scrutiny  were  satisfactory,  she 
said  :  "  I  shall  be  happy  to  see  you." 

"  But  you  did  not  seem  quite  certain,"  I  said,  in  a  low  tone, 
fearing  there  was  some  reason  why  she  did  not  wish  me  to  come. 

"  I  was  not — because  I  have  not  had  the  opportunity  to  know 
you,  as  these  have  ;  so  I  must  take  their  judgment  of  you  until  I 
can  form  one  of  my  own.  Our  Eugenia  has  been  more  for- 
tunate." 

I  looked  across  the  table,  where  the  beautiful  Eugenia  was  blush- 
ing rosy  red — but  I  did  not  know  why,  then.  I  was  fool  enough 
to  think  that  she  had  expressed  some  partiality  for  me,  which  she 
blushed  to  have  expressed  to  me. 

After  dinner,  came  a  musical  repose,  with  all  the  gems  of 
Norma,  exquisitely  rendered ;  and  then  1  prepared  to  go  with 
Harmonia,  who  had  given  the  day  to  my  instruction  and  amuse- 
ment. 

She  conducted  me  to  the  Art-Gallery,  which  is  also  the  studio, 
where  we  found  several  groups  of  artists  and  students,  engaged  in 
various  departments  of  their  beautiful  work.  I  saw  here  the  center 
and  source  of  the  tasteful  decorations  and  fine  works  of  painting  and 
sculpture,  which  adorn  every  portion  of  the  edifices  of  Esperanza. 
I  have  written  of  the  decorations  of  the  Fairy,  and  of  the  Ban- 
quetting  Hall,  and  the  scenery  of  the  Opera ;  but  I  have  not  yet 


£sF£RANZA.  135 

gived  you  an  idea  of  the  art-beauty  which  enriches  every  thing. 
Here  I  found  how  it  has  been  produced. 

Near  the  entrance  of  the  long  gallery  we  found  a  group  of 
young  students,  taking  their  early  lessons  in  drawing,  and  who 
should  we  find  as  a  leader  or  teacher,  but  our  lovely  Angela,  who 
Bat  in  the  midst,  drawing  an  urn  of  flowers  ?  Others  were  draw- 
ing difierent  objects,  and  all  were  at  work  happily. 

A  little  further  on  were  some  older  and  more  advanced  stu- 
dents, standing  at  their  easels,  and  drawing  from  casts  of  antique 
statuary.  Another  group  was  modeling  figures  in  clay.  Around 
were  the  best  works  of  their  classes  or  groups,  each  with  the 
name  and  date — mementos  of  progress. 

Further  on  we  found  Evaline,  Paul,  and  the  group  of  painters, 
painting  landscapes,  historical  or  alegorical  pictures,  etc.  It  was 
still  a  school,  but  the  work  was  of  such  a  merit  as  to  command  a 
ready  sale. 

Harmonia  had  taken  my  hand  as  we  advanced,  and  when  we 
came  where  several  were  painting  the  same  subject,  she  turned 
with  me  to  look  at  what  I  supposed  to  be  a  picture  they  were 
Gopying.  It  was  a  scene  of  some  fairyland,  a  happy  group  reposing 
under  trees,  eating  fruit,  and  weaving  garlands  of  flowers.  The 
design,  composition,  and  coloring,  all  struck  me  as  wonderful,  and 
I  stepped  forward  to  get  a  nearer  view,  when  I  found  myself  look- 
ing at,  not  a  painted  picture,  but  a  living  composition.  The  figures 
were  models  chosen  from  the  most  beautiful  forms  ;  the  fniit  and 
flowers  were  real ;  the  background  had  been  sketched  from  nature 
in  distemper,  like  scene  painting,  with  great  truth  and  effectiveness, 
and  the  drapery  was  arranged  with  an  artful  carelessness,  that  ■sas 
truly  charming.  The  repose  of  the  positions  was  so  real,  that  the 
tableau  vivant  could  remain  an  hour  without  fatigue,  and  the  result, 
I  saw,  would  be  five  grand  pictures,  each  a  copy  of  the  model,  yet  each 
original  in  execution.  It  was  a  friendly  competition,  which  must 
bring  out  the  finest  powers  of  each  artist;  and  when  all  were 
finished,  the  one  selected  would  be  kept  here,  and  the  rest  sold  f.i* 
the  mutual  benefit  of  the  artists  and  the  Home. 

At  the  far  end  of  the  gallery  I  saw  the  sculptor  Angelo  at  work 


1 36  ESPBRANZA. 

upon  a  statue,  while  one  was  standing  near  him,  on  a  pedestal, 
in  all  the  purity  of  truth — a  statue,  but  living,  I  found,  like  the 
picture.  I  hesitated — but  Harmonia  laid  her  hand  upon  my  arm, 
and  I  went  forward.  The  undraped  and  most  beautiful  model 
whom  I  did  not  recognize,  so  accustomed  are  we  to  look  only  at 
faces,  held  out  her  hand  to  me,  and  with  a  start  of  surprise,  I  saw 
that  it  was  Eugenia. 

Well,  I  took  her  hand  as  if  she  had  been  only  the  loveliest 
statue  in  the  world.  She  blushed  no  more.  Enshrined  in  the 
purity  of  art,  there  came  to  her  pure  spirit  no  thought  or  emotion 
of  evil.  The  sculptor  worked  on  with  his  copy,  soon  to  be 
moulded  and  cast  in  alabaster ;  while  others  were  taking  advantage 
of  the  presence  of  the  model,  to  make  exquisite  drawings ;  and 
two  or  three  advanced  students  were  modelling  busts,  or 
statuettes. 

The  long  room,  with  its  soft,  cool  lights,  its  groups  of  earnest 
students  and  artists,  its  stillness,  broken  only  by  low  murmurs,  and 
the  pictures  and  statues  along  the  walls,  seemed  to  me  a  sacred 
temple  for  the  worship  of  the  Divine  Beauty.  All  art  schools 
and  artists,  I  know,  have  models,  such  as  they  can  procure ;  but 
they  are  usually  such  as  serve  for  hire.  Here  were  those  who  gave 
themselves  to  the  uses  of  art,  with  a  real  enthusiasm  ;  who  entered 
into  the  spirit,  and  could  give  the  very  expression  of  each  subject. 
I  cannot  doubt  that  pictures  and  statues,  produced  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  a  peculiar  value,  and  I  can  well  believe  that 
no  other  industry  yields  more  revenue  to  Esperanza  than  the  works 
of  her  artists. 

Pictures  and  statues  are  multiplied,  to  a  limited  extent,  by  the 
means  I  have  described ;  but  engraving  and  lithography  are  also 
employed  for  this  purpose,  and  to  aid  in  the  mission  of  the  beautiful. 

"  I  thank  you!"  was  my  exclamation  to  my  friend,  as  we  de- 
scended from  the  gallery.     "  You  have  afforded  me  much  pleasure." 

"  And  you  have  also  given  me  some.  '  Blessed  are  the  pure  in 
heart.'  The  rest  of  the  verse  is,  '  for  they  shall  see  God.'  Per- 
haps if  you  read  for  they  shall  see  good,  it  will  be  as  well.  I  do 
not  think  we  are  likely  ever  to  see  God,  but  as  we  see  him  always. 


EsPERANZA.  137 

in  all  the   universe ;  but  the  pure  in  heart  see  good,  where  the 
corrupt  find  only  evil." 

"  I  have  never  seen  evil  in  works  of  high  art ;  they  have  always 
seemed  to  me  to  be  elevating  and  refining  in  their  influence." 

"  You  have  been  fortunate  in  your  birth  and  your  culture  ;  but 
there  are  thousands  in  our  country,  of  Pharisaic  pretension,  who 
are  much  less  fortunate,  and  but  few  in  the  world  of  civilization, 
not  accustomed  to  the  sphere  and  methods  of  art,  who  could  have 
passed  so  well  through  this  ordeal.  In  our  life,  and  with  our 
thoughts  and  feelings,  clothing  is  a  convenience,  a  necessity  of 
climate,  or  an  ornament;  not  a  moral  necessity,  as  in  civilization. 
Madame  '  George  Sand '  once  said,  when  her  friends  were  talking 
enthusiastically  of  the  establishment  of  association  —  the  Phalans- 
terie  of  Fourier  —  'Gentlemen,  I  will  tell  you  when  it  will  be 
possible  to  realize  association.  When  a  woman  can  walk  out  into 
the  street  naked,  and  excite  no  more  attention  or  remark  than  if 
she  were  dressed ;  then,  and  not  till  then,  may  your  dreams  be 
realized.' 

"It  was  a  profound  truth.     What  is  needed  for  harmony  is  that 
moral  purity,  which  comes  from  the  development  and  equilibrium 
or  harmonization  of  all  the  faculties.     It  is   here — here  where 
woman  may  wear  any  clothing,  as  you  see,  or  none,  without  offence 
or  injury  to  any." 

"Is  the  studio  I  have  visited  to-day,"  I  asked,  "open  to  every 
person  ?" 

"  Assuredly,  it  is  open  to  every  one  of  us  at  proper  times  ;  but 
our  principles  guard  us  against  intrusion.  Eugenia,  or  Melodia,  or 
whoever  might  be  the  model,  would  not  bo  troubled  at  beinar  seen 
by  any  who  would  wish  to  visit  the  studio.  If  there  were 
strangers,  they  must  be  such  as  we  know,  and  could  welcome  into 
our  family." 

I  expressed  my  thanks  for  this  confidence ;  but  I  confess,  dear 

Clara,  tbat  I  was  not  quite  satisfied.     It  is  not  easy  to  say  why  one 

may  not  look  at  a  woman,  beautiful  as  she  came  from  the   hand  of 

nature,   with   the   same  feeling  with  which   we   may  look  at  the 

picture  or  statue  of  one,  suoli  as  raav  be  seen  in  all  of  our  eralleries : 
12  "  &  » 


and  it  may  be  that  there  is  prejudice  in  one  ease,  as  there  has  been 
in  the  other.  But  though  I  was  reconciled  to  having  my  divinities 
seen  by  a  few,  I  did  not  wish  to  extend  the  privilege  to  so  many, 
and  I  expressed  these  doubts  to  Harmonia,  who  said  : 

"  You  are  still  a  little  prejudiced  and  unjust.  The  rules,  and 
customs,  and  restraints  of  civilization  may  be  necessary  to  the 
conditions  it  creates.  Here  it  is  not  so.  All  who  are  here,  have 
come  through  the  gate  of  consecration ;  and  though  some  have 
less  of  culture  and  taste  than  others,  all  are  honest,  and  have  a 
right  to  the  refining  influences  of  both  nature  and  art.  Beauty 
exerts  a  holy  influence  on  such  souls ;  why  should  you  deprive 
them  of  the  highest  beauty  ?  The  legend  of  the  Lady  Godiva, 
while  it  records  the  devotion  of  one  woman,  also  records  the  con- 
scious unworthiness  of  all  the  men  of  Coventry  to  look  upon  her, 
as  well  as  their  honest  self-denial  in  refraining  from  looking 
unworthily." 

"But,  dear  madam,"  I  said,  "you  would  not  have  sensual  eyes 
gloating  on  the  beauty  of  those  you  love  ?" 

"  I  would  not  have  sensual  eyes  around  me  to  gloat  on  any  thing. 
Where  there  are  such,  beauty  needs  protection.  But  when  fashion 
tells  your  New  York  ladies  to  uncover  their  arms  or  bosoms,  do 
they  ask.any  questions  about  sensual  eyes?" 

"  They  do  not :  but  I  have  never  felt  satisfied  that  any  one  I 
cared  for  should  be  exposed  to  such  rude  gazings." 

"You  were  right,  I  think.  Sensitive  natures  feel  the  influence 
of  the  emotions  they  unwittingly  excite.  Your  shrinking  from  it 
is  a  true  instinct  —  but  were  all  men  and  women  pure  and  honest, 
could  you  have  such  a  feeling  ?  We  do  not  hide  ourselves  from 
the  angels,  nor  from  any  that  we  love  and  trust." 

"  But  would  you  have  Eden  back  again  ?" 

"Perhaps  not;  certainly  not  until  the  race  improves  in  beauty. 
There  are  few  of  us  who  do  not  need  clothing  to  conceal  our  im- 
perfections. Beauty,  now,  is  the  exception  ;  it  will  soon  be  the 
rule,  and  then  universal.  When  that  comes,  Eden,  if  you  will. 
At  present,  I  should  beg  to  be  excused,  for  the  sake  of  my  own 
eyes,  as  well  as  those  of  others." 


EsPERANZA.  139 

So  our  strange  conversation,  ended  ;  and  I  walked  down  to  the 
lake-side,  thinking  of  it  all,  and  surveying  the  beauty  of  the  scene, 
until  the  bright  Angela  came  running  to  invile  me  to  take  my 
supper  with  her  sister,  and  the  group  of  artists  to  which  she 
b-jlougs. 

It  was  served  in  Evaline's  apartment,  where  she  sat  at  the  head 
of  the  table,  as  hostess,  while  I  had  the  place  of  honor  as  her 
guest. 

It  was  a  delightful  party.  We  had  Melodia,  Eugenia,  and  a 
bevy  of  bright  girls,  with  the  charming  Angela ;  and  for  men, 
Anofelo,  Paul,  and  their  brother  artists.  The  conversation  was  of 
beauty,  and  taste,  and  I  saw  evidences  of  both  all  around  me. 

I  wish  I  could  describe  this  room  of  the  gentle,  artistic  Evaline. 
It  is  the  more  outer  covering  or  clothing  of  herself.  Its  walls  are 
of  her  choice  colors,  in  which  blue  and  rose  predominate  ;  and 
though  delicately  painted  in  fresco,  they  yet  admit  of  many  gems  of 
art,  pictures  of  her  own,  portraits  of  her  friends,  and  the  works  of 
her  brother  and  sister  artists.  There  is  a  library  of  her  choice 
books  ;  and  with  her  pianoforte  and  guitar,  a  music  rack,  filled 
with  her  favorite  music.  The  furniture  is  of  carved  wood  —  each 
piece  of  some  different  device,  and  each  the  design  and  work  of 
some  one  who  wished  to  be  remembered.  Every  thing  has  its 
story,  or  its  memory.  The  room  opens  into  a  sleeping  room,  with 
its  closets,  bath-room  and  dressing-room. 

Every  person  here,  who  has  arrived  at  the  age  of  twelve  years, 
has  his  or  her  own  independent  suite  of  rooms,  with  the  simple 
necessities  of  furniture,  at  first,  to  be  added  to  afterward,  according 
to  taste  and  ability.  Each  apartment  is  sacred  to  its  owner,  and 
free  from  all  intrusion.  Parent  or  friend  cannot  come  without 
knocking,  and  no  one  asserts  claim  or  authority.  Privacy  and 
entire  individuality  are  thus  secured. 

So  the  tasteful  Evaline  was  here  in  her  OAvn  home,  and  those  she 
chose  to  have  with  her  sh,e  took  here,  as  she  might  have  taken 
them  into  her  bosom.  She  had  dressed  for  the  little  fete  in  colors 
harmonizing  with  the  room  ;  and  her  guests  had  each  dressed  for 
the  occasion  in  varied,  but  gmceful  costumes.     It  was  a  refined 


1 40  EsPERANZA. 

adornment  of  natural  charms,  like  a  fine  setting  of  gems,  or  a  fit 
framing  of  pictures.  Conforming  to  no  tyranny  of  fashion,  each  one 
was  a  separate  study  in  character  and  becomingness. 

So  in  our  little  feast,  while  all  was  gentleness  and  courtesy,  there 
was  an  entire  absence  of  all  formality.  When  any  thought  of  a 
story  to  tell,  it  was  told ;  and  if  a  song  or  an  air  was  spoken  of  or 
thought  of,  some  one  would  run  to  the  pianoforte  to  sing  or  clay 
it.  This  gentle  revel,  so  full  of  wit  and  soul,  lasted  until  we  heard 
the  music  of  the  band  on  the  western  lawn,  summoning  us  to  the 
parade  at  sunset.  It  was  a  moment  of  sublime  beauty.  The 
descending  sun,  sinking  in  the  golden  west ;  his  beams  reflected 
from  the  windows  of  the  Home  ;  the  grand  music  of  the  full 
band,  and  a  chorus  of  two  hundred  voices,  all  produced  an  eflfect 
of  sublimity,  until  tlie  evening  gun  boomed  over  the  waters,  and 
came  back  in  echoes  from  the  forest  coves,  and  the  flag  descended, 
and  the  day  was  done. 

I  could  see  the  harmonizing  influence  of  these  morning  and 
evening  assemblages,  in  which  all  were  animated  and  inspired  by 
one  common  emotion,  in  one  common  act.  As  the  last  echoes  died 
away,  the  sacred  emblem  was  folded  with  religious  care,  and 
brought  to  Harmonia.  She  gravely  thanked  the  pages  who  had 
brought  it  ;  then  others  came,  took  it  in  charge,  and  conveyed  it 
to  its  place  of  deposit,  to  bring  it  forth  in  the  morning  to  be  raised 
at  sunrise,  with  similar  ceremonies. 

When  this  was  done,  the  assemblage,  which  had  been  formed  in 
crescentic  order,  broke  into  groups,  and  spent  the  next  half  hour 
of  early  twilight  like  innocent  sportive  children  ;  and  then  all  went 
to  prepare  for  the  evening  festival. 

It  was  a  concert  and  ball  of  an  entirely  informal  and  unpretend- 
ing character.  The  evening  was  warm,  though  freshened  by  the 
lake  breeze  ;  the  toilets  were  light,  gauzy,  but  very  graceful.  The 
music,  mostly  of  stringed  and  light  wind  instruments,  as  the  flute 
and  oboe,  was  of  a  soft  exhilaration,  while  the  dances  were  of  a 
gentle,  graceful  character,  such  as  we  seldom  see  in  our  assemblies. 

After  a  little  practice,  I  found  this  style  of  dancing  very  agreea- 
ble.    In   a  quadrille,  where  the    sets   change   so   that  you  dance 


Ksr^^RANZA.  141 

wltli  many  partners,  it  was  pleasant  to  be  acquainted  with  every 
out',  and  to  need  no  introductions.  It  was  better  to  feel  that  every 
one  treated  me  with  entire  confidence.  I  saw  no  sadness  here, 
such  as  one  sees  with  us  in  the  gayest  company,  and  felt  no 
distrust.  There  was  the  most  perfect  freedom,  without  riot  or 
disorder.  A  refined  courtesy,  a  gentle  politeness,  a  self-possessed, 
and  yet  defemtial  behavior,  was  universal.  There  was  no  hnugh- 
tine.ss,  and  no  intrusion.  Groups  clustered  by  spontaneous  at- 
traction. If  I  looked  at  a  lady  wishfully,  as  if  I  would  speak  or 
dance  with  her,  she  held  out  her  hand  to  me,  or  signed  with  her 
fan  or  bouquet  to  invite  me  to  approach  her.  And  I  have  observed 
here,  that  at  all  times,  in  the  fields,  shops,  or  assemblies,  no  one 
ever  risks  intrusion  by  approaching  an  individual  or  a  group, 
without  an  invitation.  So,  if  you  choose,  you  may  be  in  the  most 
perfect  isolation.  I  have  seen  no  rudeness,  coarseness,  or  imper- 
tinence of  speech  or  action,  such  as  we  have  seen  but  too  often,  even 
in  the  most  fashionable  assemblies. 

In  the  intervals  of  the  dancing  we  had  two  or  three  stories, 
recitations,  or  speeches  ;  and  some  choice  vocal  music  ;  and  at  the 
close,  one  of  those  grand  chorusses,  which  seem  to  melt  all  into 
the  same  harmony.  So  the  merry  evening  closed  with  a  calm  hap- 
piness, and  Harmonia,  who  had  given  me  the  morning,  now  came 
to  bid  me  good  night.  We  walked  out  into  the  moonlight,  and 
down  through  the  soft  odors  of  the  night  to  the  sands  of  the  lake, 
and  sat  there  by  the  silvery  ripple  of  its  waves. 

"  Two  days  with  us,  my  friend,"  she  said  ;  her  hand  resting  on 
my  shoulder,  "  two  days  of  our  life.  Will  you  tell  me  how  it  now 
seems  to  you  ?" 

"  It  seems  like  dream-land.' 

"  It  has  been  a  dream — but  all  such  dreams  come  to  be  realities." 

"But  is  there  no  fear  that  some  calamity  will  befall  this 
happy  scene  ;  that  these  gathered  groups  may  be  scattered  again 
into  the  discords  and  isolation  of  the  outer  world  ?  " 

'■  We  have  no  such  fear.     What  is  to  scatter  us  ?  " 

"  If  you  and  Vincent  were  to  die." 

•'  As  we   must,   soon.     There  are  rnany  ready  to  stand  in  our 


142  -  EiJ'LUAJsZA. 

places.  The  harmony  clusters  around  the  central  life,  but  that 
belongs  to  no  individual.  And  each  group  has  its  own  center,  as 
well  as  all  the  groups  a  central  group.  All  are  educated,  and  are 
being  every  day  more  educated  hi  this  life.  Nothing  but  sopae 
convulsion  of  external  force  can  destroy  us.  From  that  the  Pro- 
vidence that  has  broufjht  us  so  far,  will  guard  and  defend  us." 

"Amen!"  I  murmured  reverently.  "  But  I  have  much  yet  to 
learn.  You  now,  sittingr  with  me  alone  in  the  ni^ht.  Does  no  one 
wait  for  you?" 

"Do  I  belong  to  myself,  or  to  another?"  said  she,  with  energy. 
"  But  I  can  pardon  the  question  and  the  thought,  for  I  have  lived 
in  all  the  slaveries  of  civilization.  I  know  what  it  is  to  be  owned. 
But  now,  and  here,  I  am  free,  as  every  one  here  is  free.  No 
woman  here  is  owned  by  husband,  or  parent,  or  lover.  She  lives 
her  own  life,  accountable  only  to  her  own  interior  sense  of  right — 
to  the  Divinity  of  her  own  being.  So,  if  I  should  sit  all  night  by 
the  lake  shore,  alone,  or  with  another,  there  is  no  one  to  call  me  to 
account,  or  to  criticise  my  conduct." 

"And  Vincent?" 

"Is  he  less  his  own?  Look!"  She  pointed  across  the  lake, 
where  I  saw  a  boat  with  its  white  sail,  and  in  a  few  moments  we 
heard  first  a  few  clear  bugle  notes,  and  then  a  glee  of  three  voices, 
in  which  I  recognized  Melodia,  Vincent,  and  Evaline.  The  boat 
sped  on,  and  the  music  died  away  in  the  distance. 

The  lights  had  been  extinguished,  one  by  one,  until  the  home 
was  lighted  only  by  the  clear  moonbeams,  a  picture  of  wondrous 
beauty  ;  a  cluster  of  buildings,  which  have  spread  out  like  the 
banian  tree ;  a  symetrical  variety,  every  addition  adding  to  the 
picturesqueness  of  the  whole  mass  without  marring  any  effect 

"Our  life  is  three-fold,"  said  Harmouia,  when  I  had  looked 
some  moments  at  this  scene  ;  "  the  life  of  the  individual,  of  the 
group,  and  of  the  whole  society.  Our  life  secures  to  us  the  most 
absolute  individual  freedom.  Every  one  consults  his  own  tastes, 
chooses  his  own  employments,  and  disposes  of  his  time,  labor  and 
affections  as  he  wishes  to  do.  Every  one  finds  those  with  whom 
he  can  group  in  the  relations  of  friendship  and  love,  and  all  groups 


ESPERANZA.  1 43 

join  together  in  those  enterprises  and  amusements  which  are  for 
the  common  good.  We  have  a  beautiful  home,  plenty  beyond  all 
care,  a  healthful  and  attractive  industry,  a  gi-owing  and  refinino- 
art,  means  for  intellectual  improvement  and  enjoyment,  freedom  and 
love.  Heaven  is  very  near  us  in  this  Home.  With  our  own 
present  and  future  assured  to  us,  we  only  ask  that  others  may  be 
prepared  as  fast  as  may  be  to  join  us,  and  then  to  form  other 
Humes  like  this,  until  the  world  will  be  filled  with  riches,  beauty 
harmony  and  happiness." 

"  Will  it  be  soon  ?"  I  asked,  as  if  certain  that  she  could  tell  me. 

"Not  soon,  if  we  reckon  by  our  wishes,"  she  said,  "and 
yet  sooner  than  would  be  reckoned  by  our  fears.  It  is  a  question 
of  progress  or  growth.  But  few  of  the  present  or  passing  gener- 
ation can  be  developed  up  to  the  plane  of  harmony.  Our  work  is 
with  the  young.  We  are  preparing  the  means  of  education  for  vast 
numbers,  who  will  come  to  us  soon,  before  the  habits,  and  vices, 
and  bonds  of  civilization  have  gathered  around  them.  The  older, 
who  can  become  as  little  children,  may  also  enter  this  kingdom  of 
Heaven." 

"You  have  a  goodly  number  hei'e  ;  and  persons  of  all  ages." 

"Yes ;  yet  they  are  mostly  young.  And  these  have  been 
gathered  from  a  large  territory.  They  have  come,  many  of  them, 
out  of  great  tribulation,  and  with  the  sundering  of  many  ties.  It 
required  years  ot  progressive  davelopment,  before  they  were 
ready  even  to  form  the  first  groups  of  harmony.  But  the  great 
want  and  the  great  love  conquered,  and  when  Providence  opened 
the  way,  we  came,  and  our  groups  gathered  around  us ;  and  here 
we  are,  the  only  free  society  upon  the  earth." 

"It  seems  to  me,"  I  said,  "that  if  I  could  present  simply  and 
truly  the  fact  of  this  hfe  to  our  society,  they  would  receive  it  at 
once,  and  that  the  whole  world  could  be  revolutionized  in  a  few 
years  !" 

"  So  thought  Fourier.  He  believed  that  if  some  great  monarch 
or  great  capitalist  would  only  advance  the  means  to  form  the  first 
Phalanst^rie,  it  would  not  be  more  than  seven  years  before  the 
whole  human  race,  even  the  barbarians  and   savao-e^,  would  come 


144  Esi'tRAKZA. 

into  the  harmonies  of  the  combined  order.  Entliusiasm  is  very 
credidoiis.  Think  what  men  must  abandon  before  they  are  fitted 
for  the  first  step.  Man  must  be  freed  from  all  their  prejudices. 
They  must  give  up  all  sectarian  bigotries.  A  man  cannot  live  in 
harmony  with  those  be  believes  to  be  totally  depraved  and  destined 
to  eternal  perdition.  Men  must  give  up  the  selfishness  of  personal 
ambitions,  the  lust  of  wealth,  the  lust  of  power,  the  lust  of  appetite  ; 
they  must  be  cleansed  of  all  lusts,  and  come  into  the  consecration 
of  all  faculties  to  the  work  of  development  and  the  purposes  of 
harmony." 

"Leave  ail,  and  follow  the  Divine  Truth  ?" 

"  Leave  all  that  is  inconsistent  with  the  practice  of  the  truth.  A 
man  may  not  necessarily  leave  father,  and  mother,  and  children ; 
property  and  friends ;  btit  he  must  be  ready  to  do  so,  or  there  is 
no  true  consecration.  Think  now,  if  you  know  many  persons 
ready  for  our  life." 

I  thought  earnestly,  my  Clara,  and  I  could  only  think  of  you, 
and  of  you  hope,  not  without  trembling.  It  asks  for  so  much,  and 
yet  it  seems  to  me  but  the  most  simple,  natural,  and  beautiful  life, 
and  one  every  body  ought  to  live. 

We  heard  now  a  song  stealing  over  the  waters ;  a  sweet  low 
song  of  love  and  happiness.  I  recognized,  even  in  the  for  distance, 
the  voice  and  guitar  of  Evaline.  Soon  the  sail  whitened  in  the 
moonbeams  and  the  boat  drew  nigh.  We  rose  and  Harmonia 
waved  her  handkerchief,  and  the  boat,  obeying  her  signal,  soon 
grounded  on  the  beach  where  we  were  standing,  the  sail  was 
furled  and  a  party  of  six  came  on  shore.  Vincent  put  his  arm 
around  Harmonia  ;  Melodia  came  to  me,  and  we  went  slowly  up  the 
gravelled  walk,  through  the  heavy  perfumes. 

We  all  went  to  Melodia's  apartment,  when  each  one  drank  a 
single  glass  of  wine,  as  if  it  were  a  sacrament ;  then,  with  a  kiss 
of  peace  they  went  to  their  repose.  And  I  was  left  with  Melodia, 
alone,  at  midnight. 

She  sat  upon  a  couch,  and  I  sank  at  her  feet- — the  beautiful  feet 
of  her  who  had  brought  me  glad  tidings.  Lovely  as  I  had 
thought  her,  when  I  first  saw  her;  beautiful  as  she  was  to  me  on 


ESPERANZA.  145 

all  our  journey,  she  had  never  appeared  so  beautiful  as  now,  in  tho 
heart  of  her  Home,  and  among  her  loved  ones.  She  did  not  wait 
for  me  to  speak  first,  but  said : 

"Have  I  done  well  to  bring  you  here  ?" 

"I  can  never  thank  you  as  I  wish,"  I  answered. 

"  I  am  thanked  and  paid,  if  you  come  back  to  us." 

And  I  said  "  Oh,  beautiful  one ;  my  life  is  here.  I  shall  come, 
for  I  love  you." 

She  took  my  hand  and  held  it  a  few  moments  in  silence.  I 
would  have  spoken,  but  I  could  not.  I  felt  a  subduing  power, 
which  calmed  me.  I  wondered  how  I  had  said  Avhat  I  did,  but  1 
could  not  take  it  back.  It  was  not  needed.  She  said  very  softlj 
and  tenderly  to  me  — 

"  I  know  that  you  love  me ;  and  this  love,  which  must  live  a 
a  sac'-ed  thing  in  your  heart,  will  help  to  conquer  obstacles,  and 
bring  you  here  again.  When  you  have  come,  and  have  passed 
through  the  portal  of  consecration,  you  will  find  all  that  is  truly 
yours.  I  accept  the  love  with  a  devout  thankfulness ;  you  must 
trust  me  as  you  love. 

"  Is  it  so  hard  to  wait  ?  "  she  asked,  responsive  to  some  look  oi 
thought  of  mine.  "  You  must  wait  with  an  entire  patience,  until 
you  are  in  the  harmony,  before  you  can  know  what  the  harmony 
will  bring  to  you.  I  accef)t  your  love  as  a  prophecy,  which  may 
help  to  accomplish  its  own  fulfilment.  I  thank  you  for  your  love, 
and  I  give  you  hopeJ" 

She  rose  as  I  did,  put  back  my  hair,  and  with  an  inexpressibly 
sweet,  tender  dignity,  pressed  her  lips  to  my  forehead,  and  I  went 
from  her  presence  as  reverently,  as  I  would  have  parted  from 
an  angel. 

13 


IX. 

THE    MASQUERADE. 

Mt  Beautiful  :  I  imagine  myself  with  you,  seated  at  your  side, 
and  telling  you  all  that  I  write.  Would  that  it  could  be  so  !  1 
know  that  you  would  ask  me  many  questions,  and  bring  out  by 
your  inquiries,  a  hundred  details  I  may  forget  to  give  you. 

The  basis  of  all  true  life  is  industry  ;  and  the  product  of  industry 
is  wealth.  In  our  civilization,  many  are  idle  drones  ;  and  the  labor 
of  vast  multitudes  is  wasted  or  unproductive.  I  have  long  seen 
this,  but  never  clearly  as  now.  Here  all  work,  from  the  infant  of 
five  years  to  the  oldest;  and  a  large  portion  of  this  labor  is  pro- 
ductive of  wealth.  I  walked  around  yesterday,  almost  the  entire 
day,  except  the  hours  in  which  I  wrote  to  you,  and  inspected  many 
details  of  this  industry,  which  is  the  basis  of  so  much  happiness. 

The  first  material  wants  of  this  society  are  food,  clothing,  and 
shelter.  Grain,  fruils,  vegetables,  milk,  eggs,  honey,  are  produced 
in  superabundance  for  every  want,  and  some  in  large  surplus.  Of 
wheat  and  corn,  those  great  cereal  staples,  for  example,  there  is 
always  a  three  years'  supply  in  the  air  tight  granaries.  Of  fruits, 
there  is  a  large  stock,  dried  or  preserved.  The  finest  vegetables, 
as  green  corn,  green  peas,  and  tomatoes,  are  also  kept  in  large  quan- 
tities. There  are  a  thousand  hens,  and  a  hundred  swarms  of  bees. 
The  eggs  are  preserved  both  in  vacuum  and  by  drying  to  powder. 
A  few  hours'  labor  each  day,  through  the  growing  season,  not  only 
supplies  every  want,  and  fills  the  granaries  and  store-houses  beyond 
all  fear  of  want,  but  leaves  an  abundant  surplus,  which  the  Fairy 
takes  to  a  ready  market  at  New  Orleans,  Memphis  or  Vicksburg. 

This  surplus  is  exchanged,  in  part,  for  sugar,  rice,  etc.,  and  in 
part  for  the  materials  of  clothing,  both  for  the  general  stock,  and 


EsPERANZA.  147 

for  individual  requirements.  This  clothing  is  made  up  during  the 
■winter,  and  on  rainy  days,  when  out-door  work  is  impracticable. 
The  general  clothing,  and  bed  and  table  linen,  is  made  up  by  groups 
of  workers,  in  the  sessions  of  general  or  communal  labor.  The 
private  wardrobes  are  made  up  in  the  groups,  in  the  hours  of  in- 
dividual work  or  amusement.  A  lady  who  has  dresses  to  make 
for  herself,  or  for  some  one  she  loves,  invites  a  group  of  skilled 
artists  to  assist  her,  and  she  assists  them  in  turn.  Great  skill  is 
thus  developed,  and  a  wonderful  beauty  and  variety  of  costume. 

The  shelter,  or  dwelling  combines  every  needed  convenience. 
The  suites  of  rooms,  consisting  of  parlors,  bed-rooms,  bath- 
rooms, and  closets,  are  clustered  in  groups,  the  parlors  of  a  group 
opening  into  each  other,  so  that  several  can  be  combined,  where  a 
group  gives  a  party,  and  invites  the  members  of  other  groups.  At 
the  same  time  the  privacy  of  every  individual  is  most  sacredly 
respected.  The  whole  is  lighted,  and  warmed  in  winter,  by  gas, 
and  cooled  in  summer  by  a  most  perfect  ventilation. 

The  large  saloons  have  self-acting  ventilators,  which  open  and 
let  out  the  warm  air,  and  admit  the  cooler,  at  a  certain  temperature. 
The  outer  walls  are  all  double,  for  protection  against  both  cold  and 
heat ;  and  a  blower  attached  to  the  steam-engine  throws  either  warm 
or  cold  air,  as  needed,  througli  pipes,  to  every  portion  of  the  buildings 

So  the  three  physical  wants  have  a  beautiful  and  abundant  pio 
vision :  a  residence  of  excellent  adaptation  to  every  requirement  of 
comfort  and  taste  ;  clothing  for  use,  cleanliness,  and  beauty  ;  and 
food  in  abundance,  healthful,  nourishing,  and  satisfying  the  de- 
mands of  an  esthetic  gastronom3^ 

But  the  supply  of  these  physical  requirements,  even  on  a  scale 
of  luxury  and  refinement,  requires  but  a  small  portion  of  the  in- 
dustry of  this  society.  There  is  a  varied  and  active  work  in 
manufactures  and  art,  adding  to  the  wealth,  elegance,  and  luxury 
of  the  Home.  Of  these  I  will  hereafvor  give  you  some  details. 
There  is  abundant  work,  and  also  abindar.t  leisure  ;  but  the  work, 
performed  as  it  is  here,  is  more  aui-iictive  than  rest,  and  I  see  that 
the  busy  instinct  of  humanity  here  finds  its  normal  action.  Every 
work,  by  skill  and  combination,  is  made  amusing. 


1 48  EsPERANZA. 

It  is  curious  to  see  the  industrial  force  of  this  society,  and  the 
prodigies  it  performs,  t  spoke  of  this  to  Alfred,  yesterday,  as  I 
watched  the  progress  of  the  addition  to  the  building,  whose  walls 
are  rising  day  by  day,  and  where  men  and  boys,  and  even  a  few 
girls,  work  on  like  so  many  beavers,  impelled  by  the  same  instinct. 

"  We  have  nothing  else  to  do,"  said  he,  "  for  we  are  not  obliged 
to  take  care  of  each  other,  as  in  the  society  we  have  left." 

"iror  example  ?"  said  I  ;  willing  to  see  the  case  he  would  make. 

"  For  example,  we  need  not  deduct  from  the  effective  industrial 
force  of  our  society,  a  parscn  to  preach  for  us ;  a  doctor  to  cure 
us  of  diseases  self-produced ;  a  lawyer  to  help  us  quarrel ;  police 
to  keep  us  in  order;  soldiers  to  fight  for  us  ;  sick  people  and  their 
attendants  ;  financiers  to  fleece  us  ;  traders  to  buy  and  sell  for 
us  ;  thieves  and  paupers  to  plunder  us  ;  and  so  on  to  the  end  of 
the  long  list  of  the  civilized  drones,  leeches  and  parasites." 

It  was  a  good  enumeration,  but  not  yet  half  filled  out.  In  New 
York,  every  working  man  does  enough  labor  every  year,  in  paying 
his  rent,  to  build  a  good  house,  which  would  last  him  his  life  time. 
If  he  works  three  hundred  days  a  year,  two  hundred  and  fifty  or 
more  are  for  other  people.  Yet  what  a  life  !  How  poor,  enslaved, 
meager  and  miserable  it  appears,  in  comparison  with  the  free, 
buoyant,  happy  life  around  me. 

"  There  are  other  economies  of  labor  here,"  said  Alfred, 
"  which  may  be  worth  considering.  If  the  men  are  set  free  from 
the  useless  occupations  of  civilization,  or  the  necessity  of  support- 
ing those  who  follow  them  ;  the  women  are  quite  as  free  and 
available  to  productive  industry.  In  the  isolate  and  discordant 
disorder  of  the  prevailing  society,  our  women  would  be  either 
fashionable  idlers,  or  housekeepers,  or  domestic  drudges.  Here 
we  have  neither.  A  small  group  is  in  the  nursery ;  others  in 
kitchen  and  laundry  ;  and  all  free  to  assist  in  some  productive  or 
beautiful  industry.  Our  force  is  four  or  five  times  as  great,  there- 
fore, as  with  the  same  number  of  persons  in  the  old  society,  so 
that  we  can  easily  accomplish  double  in  half  the  time." 
"  And  the  enthusiasm  counts  for  somethino' ?  " 
"  It  nearly  doubles  the  product  again.     Twenty  of  our  boys  and 


EsPERANZA  1 49 

girls,  working  together,  with  the  vigor  of  health  and  the  excitement 
of  an  emulative  contest,  will  often  do  more  work  in  two  hours,  than 
the  same  number  of  hired  laborers  would  do  m  a  day. 

"  There  are  other  economies  than  those  of  labor.  For  instance, 
it  would  cost  three  times  the  labor  to  build  separate  dwellings,  for 
as  many  families  as  our  population  would  compose.  They  would 
burn  six  times  the  fuel.  Their  separate  cookings,  washings,  bak- 
ings, etc.  would  require  ten  times  the  labor.  Fifty  barns,  granaries, 
cellars,  sets  of  fences,  kitchen  furniture,  implements,  etc.  and  all 
this,  to  secure  less  privacy  than  we  enjoy,  less  comfort  in  every 
way,  giving  us  a  thousand  cares  and  annoyances,  and  not  a  tithe 
of  our  means  of  happiness.  Civilization  is  a  miserable  state  of  toil, 
vexation,  and  enslavement,  under  the  best  conditions.  You  have 
seen  what  it  may  be  under  the  worst." 

The  hideous  picture  of  the  life  of  poverty  in  our  city,  came  to 
me,  in  the  light  of  this  contrast,  as  it  never  came  before. 

I  walked  away  thoughtfully,  and  came  soon  where  a  noisy  group 
of  children,  from  three  to  ten  years  old,  were  engaged  in  picking 
and  shelling  green  peas.  They  were  stripped  from  the  vines  with 
great  rapidity,  and  carried  in  baskets  to  two  dog  carts,  the  contest 
being  to  see  which  cart  would  be  soonest  filled  by  its  group.  There 
was  also  a  spirited  contest  between  the  pickers  and  shellers,  and  it 
was  no  empty  victory,  for  the  members  of  the  triumphant  groups 
have  the  right  to  wear  the  badge  of  their  triumph  at  the  evening 
parade  and  festival. 

It  had  been  beautiful  weather  for  several  days,  but  the  gardens 
required  moisture.  I  went  with  Vincent  to  see  the  opening  of  the 
sluices  for  irrigation.  The  canal  winds  along  the  hill  side,  with 
an  embankment  skirted  by  the  osier,  or  basket  willow,  which  is 
also  a  staple  of  industry  for  the  winter ;  the  willow  furniture  of  all 
kinds  made  here,  being  light  and  graceful  as  fairy  work,  and  finding 
a  ready  market  at  high  prices. 

In  the  arrangement  of  the  grounds,  more  than  four  hundred 
acres  can  be  watered  from  this  canal,  which  is  fed  by  a  mountain 
lake  and  living  springs.  If  these  were  to  fail,  Vincent  said,  they 
could  readily  send  the  water  up  from  the  lake   below.     As  we 


1  50  EsPEBANZA. 

passed  along  the  dyke,  opening  the  sluices  from  point  to  point,  it 
was  beautiful  to  see  the  Avaters  go  rushing  and  dancing  down  the 
slopes,  and  we  heard  the  cheers  of  the  children,  as  the  rivulets 
reached  them.  In  a  little  time  the  whole  region  was  well  moist- 
ened. Where  the  lands  are  out  of  the  reach  of  this  irrigation, 
there  are  watering  carts,  filled  by  backing  into  the  lake,  and  then 
distributing  their  showers  like  the  watering  carts  in  Broadway. 

Among  the  favorite  amusements  or  attractive  occupations  of  the 
young  people  of  both  sexes,  is  the  training  of  horses  to  beautiful 
exercises,  on  a  part  of  the  grounds,  well  fitted  for  this  purpose. 
As  there  are  fifty  horses  and  ponies,  there  is  no  lack  of  material ; 
and  the  children  not  old  enough  to  be  entrusted  with  horses,  have 
their  pet  goats,  dogs,  and  sheep,  under  excellent  subjection,  so  as 
to  go  in  the  saddle  and  harness,  and  perform  many  uses. 

This  life,  you  see,  is  not  simply  utilitarian.  It  is  not  to  get  the 
greatest  possible  product  out  of  a  certain  amount  of  labor,  or  a 
certain  number  of  hands.  The  higher  object  is  seen  every  where, 
of  making  the  life  best  worth  living  ;  a  means  for  the  exercise, 
development  and  enjoyment  of  all  faculties.  These  equestrian 
exercises,  I  could  see,  were  well  adapted  to  give  strength,  energy 
and  a  certain  boldness  and  self-possession  of  character.  There  is, 
also,  on  this  play  ground,  a  gymnasium  for  old  and  young,  much 
used  in  the  winter,  and  at  all  seasons  when  the  regular  work  does 
not  furnish  sufficient  exercise.  This  has  done  much,  I  am  told,  to 
give  the  men  and  women  the  fine  and  full  development  which  I 
cannot  enough  admire.  We  have  seen  this,  even  in  the  city,  where 
the  pupils  of  a  few  teachers  of  gymnastics  show  a  remarkable 
contrast  to  the  pale  cheeks  and  undeveloped  forms  which  fill  our 
drawing-rooms  with  objects  of  pity,  and  the  grave-yards  with 
victims  of  consumption. 

I  am  indebted  to  Vincent  for  many  of  these  observations ;  for  he 
accompanied  me  in  my  walk,  pointing  out  any  matter  of  interest, 
or  giving  any  required  explanation.  He  had  been  a  physician 
formerly,  I  knew,  and  I  asked  him  respecting  the  health  of  Espe- 
ranza,  for  as  yet  I  had  heard  of  no  sickness. 

"My  office  of  physician  is  a  sinecure,"  said  he;  "we  have  left 


ESF£RASZA.  151 

the  causes  of  disease  behind  us.  With  pure  food,  cleanliness, 
exercise,  freedom  from  care,  and  happiness,  what  should  make  us 
sick  ?  We  have  had  no  death  here,  and  scarcely  any  illness. 
Many  brought  out  of  civilization  the  results  of  its  evil  practices, 
but  every  day  of  this  life  has  purified  and  strengthened  them. 
The  children  who  came  with  us  have  passed  their  purgations,  such 
as  measles  and  scarlatina,  almost  without  confinement ;  those  bom 
here,  we  hope  may  not  need  them," 

"  Do  you  think  uninterupted  health  possible  ?  " 

"  Why  not  ?  Health  is  the  natural  condition ;  disease  the  un- 
natural. Men  earn  their  diseases.  Even  where  there  is  malaria, 
or  a  poisoned  atmosphere,  one  whose  life  is  pure  and  true  in  all  other 
respects,  can  resist  a  single  cause  of  disease.  People  who  eat  no 
flesh  of  dead  animals ;  who  take  no  such  poisons  as  opium,  tobacco, 
hops,  or  whiskey  ;  who  do  not  exhaust  their  lives  by  any  im- 
moderate or  unnatural  indulgence ;  who  are  pure  and  chaste,  have 
a  vigor  of  life  which  triumphs  over  many  evils.  Harmony  of  the 
system  is  health  ;  and  where  is  each  body  and  spirit  so  likely  to  be 
in  harmony,  as  in  a  harmonic  society  ?  We  have  solved  the  ques- 
tion of  disease.     For  us,  then,  is  no  more  sickness." 

"  Have  you  ever  thought,"  I  said,  "  of  the  possibility  of  a  con- 
tinual recuperation  ?  " 

"  Of  an  earthly  immortality  ;  yes.  It  cannot  come,  I  think,  to 
a  fragment  of  humanity ;  but  when  the  whole  earth  is  harmon- 
ized, I  see  no  reason  why  life  should  not  be  prolonged  indefinitely, 
if  it  were  desirable  ;  which  it  is  not,  at  present.  The  argument  to 
the  contrary  is  from  analogy — and  all  analogies  fail  under  new- 
conditions." 

"  Will  you  excuse  some  questions,  which  may  not  seem  needful 
to  you,  and  may  even  seem  invidious?"  I  asked. 

"  I  wish  you  to  be  entirely  frank  with  me  and  all,"  he  said. 
"  Ask  freely,  and  you  shall  have  as  true  answers  as  can  be  given. 
We  would  cheerfully  make  our  life  an  open  book,  to  all  earnest 
seekers  after  the  truth." 

"  Will  you  tell  me  how  you  deal  with  crime  ?  "  Vincent  looked 
in  my  face  with  a  curious,  puzzled  expression  ;  then  smiled,  and  said : 


1 52  ESFERANZA. 

"I  was  near  forgetting  where  you  have  so  lately  come  from.  I 
have  told  you  that  we  have  no  disease.  The  mental  disorder,  or 
discordance,  which  results  in  crime,  finds  no  place  in  harmony. 
What  crime,  for  instance  ?  Theft,  where  every  one  has  all  he 
wants?  Tliere  is  no  inducement  to  any  crime  against  property, 
where  all  have  an  interest  in  the  common-wealth.  There  is  scarcely 
a  possible  motive  for  a  crime  against  the  person,  and  a  pure  and 
healthy  life  is  a  good  security  against  the  insanities  of  passion. 
There  is  the  same  security  against  sensuality.  If  a  crime  were 
committed,  the  criminal  would  be  pitied  as  an  insane  or  diseased 
person.     All  would  try  to  cure  him." 

"  But  if  a  man  or  woman  were  wicked  or  perverse  ?  " 
"If  this  were  not  also  disease,  there  would  be,  first,  coldness  ; 
then  withdrawal  of  all  sympathy  ;  then  expulsion.  It  would  be 
like  the  sloughing  off,  or  excision  of  a  mortified  limb.  But  I  ap- 
prehend no  use  for  such  surgery.  A  healthy  body  does  not  lose 
its  members.     No  more  does  a  healthy  society." 

"  If,  at  any  time,  or  for  any  reason,  a  member  wishes  to  leave  ?" 
I  said,  not  without  a  sense  of  some  absurdity  in  the  question. 

If  any  member  wishes  to  travel  abroad,  there  i  sentire  freedom. 
Each  one  has  an  individual  property,  as  well  as  an  interest  in  the 
common  wealth.  The  society  is  like  a  bank,  where  property  is 
deposited  for  safe  keeping." 

"  1  have  asked  you  in  regard  to  crime.  It  is  true  that  I  see  no 
temptation  to  fraud  or  violence ;  but  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  of  a 
society  where  there  is  never  idleness,  wrangling,  or  any  other 
disorder.  It  seems  necessary  that  there  should  be  some  govern- 
ment or  authority." 

"  The  prevailing  spirit  of  our  society  is  activity.  It  is  our 
fashion  ;  and  approbativeness  and  self-esteem,  no  less  than  conscien- 
tiousness incite  to  industry.  How  can  a  man  with  any  self-i*espect, 
or  feeling  of  justice,  or  regard  for  the  good  opinion  of  others,  ea* 
the  bread  of  idleness  ?  The  social  wants  of  sympathy,  friendship, 
and  love,  can  only  be  satisfied  here,  by  earnest  right  doing. 
Paul  said,  "if  a  man  will  not  work,  neither  shall  he  eat."  With 
us,  it  would  need  no  authority  to  enforce  such  a  rule.     A  man 


EsPERANZA.  1  i,A 

would  be  ashamed  to  eat,  who  did  less  than  his  full  share  in  pro- 
ducing our  food.  As  to  wrangling-,  whoever  should  begin  it 
would  wrangle  himself  out  of  his  group,  and  out  of  all  sympathy 
and  enjoyment.  There  is  nothing  to  wrangle  about.  The  healthy 
and  happy  are  not  quarrelsome. 

"  You  ask  of  government.  The  individuals  are  self-governing  ; 
the  groups  are  self-governing  ;  and  the  society,  which  is  a  group 
of  groups,  also  governs  itself.  How  is  that  tree  governed,  or 
your  owu  body,  which  is,  perhaps,  a  still  better  type  of  a  true 
society?  Each  leaf  does  its  own  work;  each  organ  performs 
its  function,  and  the  result  is  harmony.  We  have  our  central 
group,  which  is  in  some  sense  governing,  but  it  governs  only 
by  attraction.  It  is  the  central  wisdom  and  the  central  love. 
All  offices  are  functional.  For  example,  Manlius  is  an  accurate 
calculator  of  relations  and  equilibriums,  and  an  orderly  and  exact 
accountant.  Should  there  arise  any  question  of  justice,  in  business 
matters,  every  person  here  would  wish  to  refer  it  to  him,  and 
would  be  satisfied  with  his  decision.  We  do  not  need  to  appoint 
or  elect  him  to  this  ofl&ce.  It  is  his,  because  of  his  fitness.  So 
all  other  matters.  If  a  discord  arises  in  our  harmony,  every  nice 
ear  detects  it,  every  one  wishes  it  corrected,  and  it  is.  The 
central  group  governs,  but  as  unconsciously  as  the  central  nervous 
life  in  your  body.  It  is  the  center  of  the  pervading  life,  or  harmony 
of  the  spirit." 

"  Does  the  pecuniary  success  of  this  enterprise  equal  your  ex- 
pectations ?  "  I  asked. 

"Look!"  said  Vincent,  with  a  wave  of  his  hand  toward  the 
home  and  domain,  which  we  now  overlooked,  from  a  little  emi- 
nence. It  was  in  truth  a  glorious  sight.  Fields,  gardens,  groves, 
vineyards,  edifices  of  an  architecture  like  music,  the  fairy  steamer, 
a  little  fleet  of  boats,  the  mills  and  factories  in  the  distance,  the 
groups  of  gaily  dressed  and  happy  men,  women,  and  children, 
some  with  horses  and  carriages,  some  on  the  lake,  some  bathing 
in  its  waters — for  it  was  late  in  the  afternoon,  and  in  the  houi-s  of 
recreation — all  these  made  a  scene  of  enchantment. 

"  Pecuniary  success,"  said  he,  "  is  not  a  very  high  consideration. 


154  EsPERANZA. 

perhaps  ;  but  it  is  a  fundamental  one.  We  owe  nothing,  we  own 
all  you  see ;  oar  granaries,  stores  and  cellars  are  well  supplied. 
We  can  spare  a  large  surplus,  and  our  mills,  manufactures  and  arts 
bring  us  a  good  income.  We  shall  soon  have  the  means  to  found 
another  home ;  we  could  do  it  now  if  we  could  find  people  who 
were  prepared  for  it.     But  we  must  risk  nothing  by  haste. 

"  But  the  true  success  is  the  securing  of  happiness,  in  the  har- 
mony of  all  relations.  Our  life  gives  exercise  and  enjoyment  to 
every  faculty.  Our  eyes  see  beauty  in  nature  and  art,  and  are  not 
pained  with  deformity,  and  the  spectacles  of  poverty  and  misery. 
Our  ears  are  fed  with  music,  and  speech,  which  improves  in  purity. 
We  breathe  a  pure  air,  and  have  done  something  to  gather  around 
us  a  littrmony  of  odors.  The  natural  taste  finds  its  highest  satis- 
faction in  our  fruits.  The  sense  of  touch  is  never  violated  by  un- 
cono-enial  contacts  of  false  relations.  So  much  for  the  satisfaction 
of  the  senses. 

"  Small  as  our  society  is,  it  affords  a  career  for  a  true  ambition. 
The  approbation  and  love  of  our  own,  are  what  best  satisfies  us. 
The  applause  of  strangers,  and  people  with  whom  we  have  little 
genuine  sj-mpathy,  is  a  very  hollow  thing.  T  need  not  tell  you  that 
our  loves  are  true,  free,  and  beautiful.  You  have  seen  our  children. 
It  is  a  new  generation  of  humanity,  which  will  complete  the  work 
we  are  beginning,  and  in  due  time  spread  peace,  plenty,  and  har- 
mony ovei  the  earth.  Then  our  armies  will  be  armies  of  industry  ; 
our  wars  w'\\\  be  with  the  deserts  and  morasses,  which  will  be 
conquered  into  fertile  domains.  The  wilderness  is  to  blossom  as  the 
rose  ;  and  all  prophecies  are  to  be  fulfilled." 

"  Then  you  believe  in  the  milleuium  ?  " 

"  It  is  here.  This  is  the  cloud  no  bigger  than  a  man's  hand.  It 
is  the  'kingdom  come.'  We  are  beginning  to  do  the  will  of  God 
on  earth  as  it  is  in  the  heavens.  As  all  prophecies  are  fulfilled,  all 
prayers,  also,  are  answered." 

"All?" 

"Yes.  Those  which  are  not  fulfilled  —  or  answered,  are  not 
prophecies  or  prayers," 

"  Do  you  look  for  cities  in  this  new  order  ?  " 


ESP£RANZA.  1 55 

"  Yes,  magnificent  cities  —  but  not  such  gatherings  of  avarice, 
voluptuousness,  poverty,  crime,  and  all  miseries,  as  London,  Paris, 
or  New  York  present — those  aggregations  of  all  the  infamies  of 
civilization.  I  can  imagine  the  bay  of  New  York  surrounded  by 
a  hundred  homes,  with  extensive  gardens,  each  the  palatial  resi- 
dence of  two  thousand  persons,  largely  engaged  in  manufacturers 
and  commerce,  and  certain  arts  which  flourish  in  concentration. 
Here  the  museums,  libraries,  art-galleries,  and  theatres  would  be 
upon  a  grand  scale,  and  hither  would  tend  a  constant  stream  of 
visitors  for  improvement  and  pleasure  from  the  rural  homes, 
scattered  over  the  country.  But  this  is  for  the  future.  The  present 
cities  are  concentrations  of  the  present  civilization.  The  cities  of 
the  future  will  be  the  magnificent  emporiums  of  the  future  society. 
We  are  in  its  germinal  period  ;  but  there  is  no  conceivable  condition 
of  riches,  grandeur,  and  happiness,  which  may  not  be  achieved  by 
a  harmonized  and  spiritualized  humanity." 

We  walked  slowly  homeward,  along  one  of  the  nice  graveled 
roads,  which  run  to  every  part  of  the  domain.  On  each  side  were 
beds  of  odorous  flowers,  and  masses  of  berry-bearing  shrubs. 
The  raspberry,  the  blackberry,  currants  and  gooseberries  grow 
along  these  roads  in  profusion,  and  all  the  grounds  are  so  laid  out 
as  to  combine  use  and  beauty.  Thus  the  merely  ornamental  trees 
are  rare  ;  but  an  abundance  are  growing  which  will  be  useful, 
such  as  the  sugar  maple,  the  common  and  Spanish  chestnut,  the 
English  walnut,  and  all  kinds  of  fruit  trees,  set  in  lovely  groves, 
wherever  the  ground  is  more  suited  to  that  than  to  other  culture. 

"  These  are  our  workers,"  said  Vincent.  "  Every  leaf  is  at  work, 
collecting  from  air  and  sunshine  the  materials  of  our  wealth.  Our 
bees  are  seeking  honey  in  every  flower.  We  could  turn  everything 
we  touch  to  gold,  if  we  clioose:  it  is  better  to  turn  every  thing  to 
improvement  and  happiness." 

At  a  turn  of  the  road,  where  it  winds  round  a  mound  planted 
with  a  grove,  we  heard  happy  voices,  and  pushing  through  some 
thick  foliage,  we  came  upon  a  group  of  young  people  and  children, 
surrounding  Serafa,  who  was  giving  them  a  lesson  in  Botany,  and 
the  analogies  of  plants  and  flowers.     With  a  subtle,  penetrating. 


1 56  EsPERA5ZA. 

poetic  power,  slie  seemed  to  read  the  secrets  of  every  flower 
brought  to  her,  aud  to  find  in  it  some  characteristic  development, 
either  of  civilization  or  harmony.  As  we  came  near,  we  paused, 
but  she  held  out  her  hand,  and  the  circle  opened  to  admit  us  ;  so 
we  reclined  on  the  soft  carpet  of  the  grass  besides  her,  and  amid 
many  shrewd  and  curious  questionings,  she  concluded  her  lesson  ; 
which  had  been  appointed  as  one  of  the  recreations  of  the  day,  in 
in  the  order  of  the  morning.  When  she  had  finished,  a  cry  arose 
from  the  girls  and  boys  of**'  The  poem  —  now  the  poem  !  " 

"  Ah  !  a  poem  is  waiting  ?"  said  Vincent. 

"  Yes,  she  has  promised  us  a  poem  at  the  close  of  the  lesson," 
said  Angela  —  "a  poem  of  flowers,  and  fairies,  and  dreamland." 

"  I  should  think  that  more  in  your  line,"  said  Vincent.  "  You 
generally  contrive  to  exhaust  all  the  riches  of  fairy-land,  so  that 
nothing  is  left  for  other  poets." 

"  Papa  !  you  are  always  laughing  at  my  poetry,"  said  Angela,  re- 
provingly :  "  When  you  were  at  my  age  did  you  make  any  better  ?  " 

"  Oh,  no  !  much  worse,  I  believe,  and  no  verses  at  all ;  but  let 
us  have  the  poem." 

Serafa  made  no  apology ;  but,  shading  her  eyes,  thought  a 
moment,  while  all  were  hushed  in  a  profound  silence  ;  then  she 
began,  slowly  and  in  low  tones  at  first,  and  afterwards  more  rapidly, 
to  weave  a  fairy  tale  in  rhyme,  which  1  could  scarcely  believe  an  im- 
provisation. Her  audience  hung  on  every  couplet  with  breathless 
delight,  and  when  it  was  finished  some  were  clapping  their  hands, 
and  some  laughing  through  their  tears ;  and  then  they  gathered 
around  her,  and  threw  their  arms  about  her  neck,  and  kissed  her 
all  over. 

She  gently  disengaged  herself  from  these  fond  and  admiring 
caresses,  and  joined  us  in  our  walk  home,  taking  my  arm  as  frankly 
as  if  I  were  her  brother  or  her  dearest  friend.  I  asked  if  she 
wrote  down  these  inspirations. 

"No,"  she  said,  tiiey  were  not  worth  it;  audit  was  better  to 
make  new  ones  when  they  were  wanted."  But  I  thought  that  if  I 
were  in  the  way  again,  I  should  try  to  save  something  for  those 
who  have  no  poet-improvisatrice  at  hand. 


ESPERANZA.  157 

We  parted  from  Vincent,  and  continued  our  walk  alone,  along  a 
shaded  and  odorous  path,  bordered  with  the  sweetest  flowers. 
Serafa  is  not  beautiful  like  Melodia  ;  she  has  not  the  piquant  charm 
of  Evaline,  but  a  grace  and  loveliness  all  her  own.  She  reminds 
me  of  those  birds  of  modest  plumage,  which  excel  in  song.  Serafa 
is  the  living  spirit  of  gentle  poesy. 

"  Will  you  tell  me,"  I  said,  "something  of  your  experience  of 
this  life?" 

"  Gladly  !  "  was  her  answer.  "  I  came  with  the  first  group,  and 
have  seen  our  harmony  expand  to  its  present  development.  The 
germinal  period,  when  we  struggled  in  the  darkness  of  the  old, 
was  one  of  devotion  and  consecration.  We  worked  out  our  devel- 
opment in  trust  and  hope.  Even  that  was  a  life  of  happiness. 
But  here  we  struggled  up  to  sunshine,  and  put  out  leaves  and 
tender  twigs,  and  so,  gathering  the  elements  of  growth  around  us, 
we  have  increased  to  our  present  period  of  flowering  and  fruitage." 

"Did  your  education  fit  you  for  this  work  ?  "  I  asked. 

"By  contrast,  perhaps,"  she  answered.  "  I  was  nurtured  in  the 
severest  school  of  Calvinistic  orthodoxy.  Poetry  came  and  set 
me  free.  I  read  Shelley  and  the  mighty  bards,  and  in  the  light  of 
their  inspiration,  the  dense  fogs  of  superstition  vanished.  I  was 
brought  by  angel  ministration  to  the  heart  life  of  our  group,  and 
in  it  found  my  home.  All  life,  all  hope,  all  worthful  work  centered 
in  this  cause,  and  when  providence  opened  the  way,  I  found  with 
them  my  liappiness,  and  here,  the  life  you  see,  but  as  yet  only  an 
external  view.  The  interior,  spiritual,  and  love  life  is  for  you,  I 
hope,  in  the  future." 

"  And  you  are  happy  ?  " 

Her  radiant  look  answered  me,  but  she  gave  expression  to  the 
emotion  that  spread  over  her  not  beautiful,  but  most  charming  face, 
a  gleam  of  sunshine. 

"Happy!"  she  said,  her  eyes  moistening:  "have  I  not  every 
thing  life  can  give  or  be.  Home,  rest,  work,  congeniality,  friend- 
ship, love  ?     What  is  there  more  ?  " 

"A  poet  might  ask  fame." 

"  I  will  not  affect  the  modesty  of  disclaiming  the  title  of  poet.     I 


168  EsPERANZA. 

have  the  consciousness  of  the  divine  gift,  and  feel  myself  an 
instrument  by  which  the  poetic  element  finds  a  certain  expression  ; 
a  weak  and  uncertain  instrument,  yet  giving  my  notes  cheerfully 
I  have  the  dearest  appreciation  here  ;  and  I  know  that  what  I  may 
ever  give  of  living  poetry,  will  not  die.  I  look  to  a  bright  future, 
in  which  the  works  of  these  first  workers  for  harmony  will  be  esr 
timated,  perhaps  above  their  intrinsic  merits.  ' 

'•  As  for  the  world  outside,  I  care  little  for  its  opinion  of  me^. 
but  wish  to  do  it  what  good  I  can.  We  have  a  little  volume  of  my 
poems  now  being  electrotyped,  and  they  will  soon  be  sent  to  some 
publisher,  to  take  their  chance  in  the  world,  and  do  the  ^ood  they 
may." 

I  may  not  have  mentioned  that  a  printing  oflSce,  small,  but  very 
complete,  is  among  the  means  of  industry  here.  In  it  are  printed 
ja.ll  labels  of  perfumery,  preserves,  seeds,  and  various  manufactures  ; 
also  a  monthly  magazine,  and  circulars  which  are  required  to  send 
to  the  groups  of  preparation.  There  is  also  printed  and  distribut- 
ed daily  a  miniature  journal,  containing  news,  criticism,  satire, 
drollery,  and  a  curious  variety  of  articles  of  general  and  local  interest. 
I  will  enclose  you  copies  of  some  of  these,  which  will  give  you  a  vivid 
idea  of  the  freedom  and  good  feeling  which  prevail.  This  jpaper 
is  a  perpetual  source  of  expectation  and  amusement.  The  articles 
are  anonymous,  and  the  little  groups  every  day  try  to  guess  out 
the  authors,  and  criticise  them  without  mercy,  and  often,  of  course, 
to  their  faces.  Here  appear  the  poems  of  Serafa,  criticisms  on  the 
artists  and  public  speakers,  and  the  musical  and  dramatic  enter- 
tainments, 

I  have  spoken  of  the  refined  manners,  and  the  ease,  and  even 
elegance,  of  deportment  and  conversation,  which  are  universal  here, 
I  could  not  understand  it  at  first,  but  it  was  easy  to  see  how  tliose 
who  gathered,  group  by  group,  around  the  refined  and  delicate 
spirits  of  the  central  life,  would  naturally  take  on  the  tone  of  their 
manners.  Tlie  whole  society  is  a  school  or  a  university  of  daily 
culture.  Coarseness  is  soon  polished  by  contact  with  refined  na- 
tures ;  and  a  pure  harmonious  life  develops  into  every  expression 
of  beauty.     The  stage,  dramatic  and  operatic,  is  also  a  school  of 


EsPEEANZA.  1 o9 

manners,  and  conversation  ;  so  are  the  daily  assemblies  ;  and  the 
works  of  art  have  their  own  refining  influence.  The  little  journal 
is  a  sharp  but  friendly  critic  of  any  deficiencies  ;  and  I  have  heard 
in  all  the  groups  of  old  and  young,  railleries,  full  of  wit  and  plea- 
santry, but  quite  free  from  bitterness,  on  any  awkwardness  of 
speech  or  behavior.  These  seem  a  natural  or  spontaneous  means 
of  education  and  improvement. 

I  have  looked  for  the  feeling  or  reproach  of  aristocracy  or  ex- 
clusiveness,  but  it  does  not  appear.  Each  group  seems  to  cluster 
together  by  its  own  affinities,  and  the  groups  are  interlocked  by 
many  interests,  in  labors  and  pleasures.  Scattered  in  all  the 
groups  are  persons  remarkable  for  particular  qualities,  or  for  skill 
in  particular  branches.  For  instance,  the  fashioning  of  costumes 
brings  into  request  the  skill  and  dexterity  of  those  who  have  been 
tailors  and  dress-makers.  A  good  shoemaker  is  an  acquisition.  A 
blacksmith  finds  himself  the  center  of  a  group  of  ambitious  pupils  ; 
a  skilful  mason  is  looked  up  to  by  all  who  take  their  turns  at 
building,  and  so  on.  Every  talent  finds  its  place,  and  the  real  uses 
of  life  are  held  in  due  respect. 

But  I  must  finish  the  story  of  my  walk.  We  sauntered  by  the 
shor.e  of  the  lake,  talking  of  many  things  in  this  life,  and  its 
conti'asts  with  the  constraints  and  evils  of  the  old  society.  Our 
path  wound  round  a  little  cove  or  bay  shaded  with  over-hanging 
willows,  a  retired  and  lonely  place,  where  we  heard  the  merry 
voices  of  children.  Coming  to  an  open  space,  we  saw  a  picture, 
worthy  of  some  tropical  Arcadia,  or  a  new  Eden.  Harmonia, 
Vincent,  and  the  venerable  patriarch  I  have  spoken  of  in  a  former 
letter,  were  on  the  bank,  sitting  on  a  mossy  seat,  while  a  large  party 
of  the  children,  from  three  years  old  to  fifteen,  were  bathing  in 
the  crystal  water  .  The  bottom  is  of  pure  white  sand,  and  the 
shores  gently  sloping,  so  that  each  one  found  his  depth.  It  was  a 
beautiful  sight.  Foremost  among  the  swimmers,  in  beauty  and 
skill,  was  the  lovely  Angela,  whose  perfect  form  had  been  the  study 
of  all  the  painters  and  sculptors.  The  exercises  of  industry,  the 
menage,  and  the  gymnasium  had  developed  both  boys  and  girls 
into  a  perfection  of  contour  seldom  seen,  Theii  skins  were  rosy  witb 


160  EsPEHANZA. 

health,  and  I  seemed  to  be  looking  upon  a  group  of  the  water  genii, 
or  the  cherubim  of  the  classic  painters. 

As  I  came  in  sight  of  this  group,  sporting  in  these  clear  waters 
in  all  the  innocence  of  nature,  stranger  as  I  was  to  such  a  scene,  I 
looked  for  some  disturbance  ;  but  there  was  not  the  least.  Angela 
hailed  us  with  joy,  and  led  off  a  series  of  aquatic  gymnastics  for 
our  amusement,  in  which  she  was  followed  by  all  her  companions. 
They  swam  and  sported  like  so  many  mermaids  ;  while  some  were 
teaching  the  smaller  children,  and  aiding  their  efforts  ;  until  Vin- 
cent and  Harmonia  rose  to  join  us,  and  then  all  came  out  upon  the 
bank,  wiped  each  other  with  towels,  and  put  on  their  clothing.  I 
thought  of  the  virtuous  indignation  of  one  of  our  policemen,  at  such 
a  spectacle.  His  feeling  may  be  right  enough  for  civilization  —  but 
here,  I  could  not  detect  the  least  indication  of  a  thought  of  im- 
purity. Why  need  we  be  worse,  in  this  respect,  than  the  savages, 
or  even  the  partially  civilized  inhabitants  of  tropical  climes? 

We  supped  with  Serafa ;  a  quiet,  genial,  soulful  repast.  She 
had  asked  those  she  wished  to  meet ;  not  those  who  might  expect 
an  invitation  ;  those  whom  she  might  benefit,  as  well  as  those  who 
could  be  a  pleasure  lo  her.  Of  our  old  friends  we  had  Laura, 
Edgar,  and  Endymion,  a  brother  poet,  who,  you  will  remember, 
was  with  us  on  the  Fairy.  We  had  bread,  a  blanc  mange  of  sago, 
honey,  and  pear  marmalade  that  was  perfectly  delicious,  and  straw- 
berry ice  cream. 

There  was  a  pleasant  and  exciting  anticipation  of  the  grand  fete 
of  the  evening,  which  was  to  be  a  masquerade  —  that  most  piquant 
metamorphose  which  our  morality  has  mostly  denied  to  us.  The 
cabalistic  spirit  I  found  in  full  play.  Every  one  had  a  secret,  for 
the  grand  charm  was  to  be  able,  by  an  entire  change  of  costume, 
manners  and  voice,  to  either  maintain  a  perfect  incognito,  or, 
better  still,  by  an  imitation  of  peculiarities,  to  pass  for  another 
person,  and  then,  in  the  assumed  character,  to  say  and  do  things 
that  would  afford  a  week's  amusement.  All  this  was  explained  to 
me  by  Laura,  Avho  offered  to  assist  me  in  disguising  myself  and 
to  keep  my  secret,  while  she  defied  me  to  find  her  out  before 
ten  o'clock,  when  all  unmasked  and  all  deceptions  were  exposed. 


ESPEBANZA.  161 

The  sunset  liymu  was  sung,  and  the  day  stars  taken  to  their  rest, 
when  all  went  eagerly  to  prepare  for  the  evening. 

When  the  band  sounded  the  call,  and  I  went  to  the  large  and 
brilliant  assembly  room,  the  spectacle  that  I  encountered  was  one 
of  the  most  grotesque  and  picturesque  that  could  be  imagined. 

The  saloon,  besides  its  permanent  ornaments  of  painting  and 
statuary,  is  freshly  decorated  by  a  group  of  artists,  for  each  new 
occasion.  Now  it  was  hung  with  the  flags  and  emblems  of  all 
nations,  and  the  costumes  and  masks  represented  nearly  all  peo- 
ples, civilized,  barbarous,  and  savage.  I  found  myself  in  an  as- 
sembly of  Japanese,  Chinese,  Tartars,  Hindoos,  Persians,  Turks, 
Arabs,  Russians,  Germans,  French,  Spaniards,  English,  Irish, 
Scotch,  Africans,  North  and  South  American  Indians  of  the  px'im- 
itive  nations,  and  South  Sea  Islanders.  In  all  these,  the  costumes, 
male  and  female,  were  carefully  copied  from  the  best  authorities, 
even  to  the  color  of  the  skin,  and  imitations  of  elaborate  tattoo- 
ing. Not  only  was  geography  thus  represented,  but  history,  for 
we  had  the  finest  costumes  of  Greece  and  Rome,  and  the  asres 
of  chivalry.  Laura  had  procured  me  an  excellent  dress  from 
the  wardrobe  of  the  theater,  and  I  appeared  as  un  beau  Chevalier, 
of  the  period  of  Louis  XIV.,  and  with  a  little  change  in  my  voice 
and  gait,  mostly  escaped  detection. 

The  effect,  en  masse,  as  the  whole  company  marched  around  the 
room  to  the  music  of  a  full  band,  such  as  we  seldom  hear,  was 
indescribable.  In  each  group  were  children,  dressed  in  corres- 
ponding costumes.     I  must  leave  the  scene  to  your  imagination. 

After  the  first  set  of  quadrilles,  the  band  played  the  music  of  all 
nations,  beginning  with  the  most  barbarous  ;  while  groups  executed 
the  corresponding  dances.  Thus  we  had  the  Greek  and  Roman 
dances,  such  as  we  see  in  bas  relief  and  pictures,  the  dances  of 
the  Bayaderes  of  India,  the  dancing  girls  of  Otaheite,  and  the 
Marquisas,  savage  Indian  dances,  and  the  polkas,  waltzes  and  ma- 
zourkas  of  Europe.  I  was  thankful  for  skill  enough  to  execute, 
with  some  applause,  a  version  of  the  minuet  de  la  cour,  with  my 
pretty  partner,  who,  with  her  powered  hair,  patches  and  train, 
and  gentle  coquetery,  might  have  been  taken  for  Ninon  de  L'Enclos. 
14 


1 02  EsPKKANZA. 

In  the  intervals  of  the  dances,  all  mingled  in  conversation  ;  but 
there  was  nothing  but  persiflage,  mockery,  and  drollery.  Every 
one  was  laying  plans  to  entrap  another  into  some  betrayal  of  iden- 
tity, and  at  the  same  time  guarding  his  own.  I  thought  I  recogniz- 
ed Harmonia  as  a  Roman  Vestal ;  then  as  a  Hindoo  Bayadere  ;  then 
a  princess  of  Ancient  Peru ;  but  I  was  each  time  mistaken.  She 
spoke  to  me  several  times  in  her  natural  voice,  but  when  I  turned 
to  see  her,  it  was  to  confront  a  group  in  which  I  could  not  distin- 
guish her  in  the  least. 

At  ten  o'clock,  in  the  midst  of  a  quadrille,  the  word  was  given 
to  unmask.  In  a  moment  every  mask  was  removed,  and  all  bowed 
gravely  to  their  mystified  partners  ;  and  then  burst  a  roar  of  merri- 
ment, as  all  the  mistakes  of  the  evening  were  at  once  detected.  But 
as  the  mistakes  were  all  innocent  ones,  and  involved  no  bad  conse- 
quences, the  dance  went  on  happily. 

Then  came  a  supper.  On  ordinary  occasions,  no  refreshments 
are  served  in  the  evening,  each  group  making  its  own  repast,  if 
needed.  But  as  this  was  an  extraordinary  festival,  a  supper  was 
spread  in  the  hall  below  at  eleven  o'clock,  the  tables  being  set  aa 
at  our  public  dinners,  with  presiding  officers,  and  toasts  prepared 
for  the  occasion.  The  representatives  of  the  various  ages  and  na- 
tions were  called  on  to  respond  to  appropriate  toasts,  which  they 
did  in  keeping  with  the  characters  assumed,  and  I  had  an  oppor- 
tunity to  hear  eloquence,  wit,  and  humor,  with  a  freedom  and 
elegance  of  elocution,  which  was  a  constant  surprise  to  me.  I  saw 
how  completely  this  whole  society  was  one  family,  and  a  school  of 
the  most  thorough  education. 

The  lights  in  the  ball  room  had  been  extinguished ;  the  band, 
which  was  at  the  supper,  took  their  instruments  at  its  close,  and  as 
the  great  clock  on  the  tower  rung  out  the  musical  midnight  chime, 
all  struck  into  a  grand  good-night  chorus,  and  soon  after  all  was  in 
profound  repose. 


X. 

SUNDAY. 

I  HAD  been  -wondering,  my  Clara,  how  we  Harmonians  should 
spend  our  Sunday ;  but  I  did  not  inquire.  I  waited,  sure  that 
each  day  would  bring  with  it  its  own  life. 

In  this  home,  where  every  day  is  a  holy  day;  where  the  noblest 
and  purest  religion  is  incorporated  into  the  daily  life  ;  where  labor 
is  prayer,  and  festivity  praise ;  I  did  not  expect  the  puritanical 
observance  of  Sunday  to  which  we  have  been  accustomed.  In  a 
society,  where  men  cheat  and  plunder,  and  war  with  each  other  in 
the  hard  battles  of  commerce  and  finance  for  six  days  of  every 
week,  it  may  be  proper  enough  to  confess  themselves  "miserable 
sinners,"  and  listen  to  sermons,  and  draw  on  sanctimonious  feces, 
on  the  seventh.     But  I  did  not  expect  it  here. 

The  Sunday  morning  ushered  in  a  day  of  jubilee.  On  no 
morning  was  the  band  so  full,  or  the  music  so  exhilerating.  It  had 
a  grandeur  of  movement  and  a  sublimity  of  effect,  such  as  I  had 
not  heard  before.  The  softest  bed  could  not  tempt  me  to  prolong 
my  repose.  It  was  as  if  every  nerve  was  galvanised  to  life,  with 
the  spirit  of  the  music  ;  so  I  sprang  from  bed  to  bath,  and  dressing 
with  some  regard  to  the  day,  I  soon  joined  the  sunrise  parade. 

All  were  in  festal  attire.  I  saw  that  there  was  to  be  no  labor. 
And  the  band  was  now  swelled  to  over  a  hundred  performers. 
All  who  have  musical  ears  play  on  some  instrument.  Those  who 
have  only  the  sense  of  time,  beat  drums,  triangles,  cymbals,  and 
even  the  Chinese  gong  joins  its  wondrous  dissonance  to  the  tempest 
of  sound. 

I  know  not  if  I  have  said  that  our  bands  are  composed  of  both 
sexes.     The  flutes,  piccolas,  oboes,  violins,  small  drums,  triano-les 

163 


1G4  ESPERANZA. 

and  lighter  instruments  are  played  by  women  and  girls ;  while  the 
clarionets,  trumpets,  bassoons,  trombones,  ophicledes,  double  basses, 
and  larger  drums,  are  retained  by  the  stronger  sex.  This  was  one 
of  the  novelties  of  the  opera,  as  of  our  parade  bands.  Often,  the 
light  quadrille  bands  are  more  than  half  composed  of  women  and 
girls,  while  the  out  door  bands  have  a  larger  proportion  of  men. 

On  this  morning,  the  order  of  parade  was  different  from  usual. 
The  crescent,  in  which  the  beautiful  assembly  first  formed,  closed  at 
a  signal  given  by  Vincent,  and,  as  the  music  proceeded,  became 
first  an  ellipse,  and  then  a  circle.  There  came  then  a  Song  of  Light, 
given  with  all  the  power  of  a  hundred  instruments,  playing  in  full 
harmony  ;  and  here  occurred  one  of  those  effects,  which  we  have 
heard  faintly  given  sometimes  in  our  ball  rooms,  and  in  the  concerts 
of  Jullien.  When  the  full  band  was  playing,  without  notice  or 
pause,  their  voices  took  the  places  of  their  instruments,  and  gave 
the  words  with  a  choral  power  and  a  thrilling  effect  which  I  had 
hitherto  but  faintly  conceived.  And  amid  this  grand  anthem — now 
of  a  hundred  instruments,  now  of  more  than  a  hundred — voices, 
now  of  voices  and  instruments  mingled, — up  rose  the  golden  sun, 
and  the  cannon  fired,  timed  with  the  music,  and  with  the  light,  and 
an  emblazoned  flag  of  larger  field  and  grander  device  rose  above 
us,  and  received  our  salutation. 

The  Order  of  the  Day  was  now  given  by  Harmonia,  who  seems 
consecrated  to  the  best  work  of  this  life.  It  proved  to  be  a  review 
day,  in  which  the  achievements  of  the  week  were  brought  forward, 
and  a  new  beginning  made  in  the  life  of  the  future.  It  gave  me  a 
fuller  idea,  than  any  observation  had  yet  given  me,  of  the  variety 
and  perfection  of  existence  here. 

The  morning  lecture,  given  by  Harmonia,  was  very  fully  attend- 
ed. Its  subject  was  the  spiritual  significance  of  the  facts  of  science. 
She  opened  to  us  the  soul  of  nature,  and  showed  us  the  relations 
of  spiritual  and  material ;  finding  even  in  the  laws  of  ultimate 
atoms,  the  principles  which  govern  the  life  of  the  soul. 

After  this  discourse,  which  was  of  a  wonderful  spiritual  beauty, 
and  Avhich  seemed  full  of  the  inspiration  of  a  higher  or  more  in- 
terior life,  I  heard  the  drums  beat,  and  the  bugle  sound  a  call ;  and 


EsPKKANZA.  165 

every  one  went  quickly  from  the  halls  of  science  ;  and  in  wonder- 
fully brief  time  assembled  to  the  vigorous  rappel,  on  the  lawn, 
armed  and  equipped  for  military  duty  ;  a  beautiful  little  regiment 
of  two  hundred,  or  five  companies  of  forty  each.  Of  these  com- 
panies, two  were  composed  of  the  strongest  and  bravest  women ; 
but  as  they  were  dressed  in  masculine  costume,  ihvj  could  scarce- 
ly be  distinguished  from  their  male  companions ;  but  their  shorter 
statue,  more  delicate  forms,  superior  elegance  of  dress  and  orna- 
ment, and  martinet  precision  of  drill  soon  marked  them  to  the 
careful  observer. 

It  was  the  first  I  had  seen  here,  of  preparation  for  military  de- 
fense. True,  there  was  the  cannon  on  the  Fairy;  the  guns  for 
salutes  at  the  landing ;  the  morning  and  evening  guns,  and  the 
soldierly  care  of  the  flag ;  but  here,  on  this  fes:al  morning,  was 
a  solemn  parade  of  the  whole  effective  force  of  this  peaceftil  society, 
armed  and  drilled  for  deadly  contest.  I  have  been  familiar  with 
the  drill  of  our  "  crack  companies  ;"  I  have  witnessed  the  reviews 
at  West  Point,  and  of  some  of  the  finest  regiments  of  our  own  and 
the  British  armies,  but  I  have  seen  nothing  like  the  celerity,  unity 
and  graceful  beauty  of  the  evolutions  of  this  corps.  The  music 
was  serious,  grand,  and  full  of  sublime  energy.  The  companies 
marched  down  the  lawn  by  the  lake,  and  fired  rifle  voUies  at  targets, 
one  for  each  company,  anchored  at  proper  distances  on  the  water. 
The  cannon  shots  boomed  across  the  lake,  fired  at  a  more  distant 
target.  Finally  afl  paid  a  marching  salute  to  the  groups  of  specta- 
tors, were  reviewed  by  Vincent  and  dismissed.  It  was,  in  all 
respects,  a  religious  ceremony  ;  and  I  could  see  that  no  duty  of  life 
could  be  more  solemn,  than  this  preparation  for  defense  against 
whatever  violence  might  assail  the  life  of  their  society. 

Then  a  breakfast,  crowned  with  an  unusual  display  of  flowers, 
and  festal  appointments.  Thus,  at  eight  o'clock  we  had  enjoyed 
four  beautiful  scenes  —  the  sunrise  parade,  the  morning  lecture, 
the  military  review,  and  a  festal  breakfast,  each  of  which  would 
have  been  a  rare  event  in  the  dull  life  of  civilization.  And  now  the 
whole  day  was  before  us,  to  improve  and  enjoy ;  a  day  of  lest,  of 
freedom,  and  sacred  to  the  hitrhcst  uses. 


16C  EbPKKAXZA. 

From  eight  to  nine  o'clock,  all  occupied  or  amused  themselves, 
singly  or  in  little  groups.  Some  sat  in  the  groves  ;  some  read  in 
the  library  ;  some  sailed  along  the  shaded  margin  of  the  lake ; 
some  walked  apart  in  quiet  contemplation.  I  walked  with  Laura 
and  Angela  to  a  cool  grotto,  hollowed  out,  partly  by  nature,  partly 
by  art,  in  a  limestone  cliff,  on  the  margin  of  the  lake,  and  orna- 
mented with  shells  and  petrifactions.  The  wavelets  rippled  on  a 
pebbly  beach,  close  by  the  entrance,  round  which  grew  climbing 
plants.  Within  are  mossy  couches,  on  which  we  reclined  and 
drank  the  crystal  waters  of  a  cold  spring  that  gush  from  the  living 
rock  and  tinkle  down  a  series  of  minature  cascades.  It  is  a  lovely 
place,  cool  in  the  warmest  day,  and  the  gentle  singing  of  the  gush- 
ing rill  lulls  to  repose.  Were  you  but  with  us,  I  thought,  I 
should  be  completely  happy. 

We  returned  a  little  before  nine  o'clock,  to  be  ready  for  the 
Review  of  Industry,  which  I  was  not  willing  to  lose,  as  it  would 
give  me  a  better  idea  than  I  had  yet  obtained  of  the  labor-life  of 
Esperanza.  This  weekly  congress  of  workers,  men,  and  women, 
and  children  as  well,  met  in  the  large  assembly  room.  Alfred 
presided  and  opened  the  session  with  a  brief  address,  very  manly 
and  straight-forward.  He  then  made  report  of  the  progress  of 
building,  awarded  the  credit  due  to  the  best  workers,  not  forgetting 
the  girls  and  boys  who  had  aided  efficiently  in  carrying  stone, 
mortar  and  other  material ;  a  work  which  was  genuine  play  to 
them.  I  looked  round  and  saw  cheeks  flush  and  eyes  sparkle,  as 
name  after  name  was  called,  of  those  who  had  aided  in  this  work. 

The  next  report  was  from  the  recognized  chief  of  the  group  of 
gardeners,  a  lady  of  great  skill  in  this  department.  She  also  named, 
and  praised  in  a  few  choice  words,  her  most  skillful,  active,  and 
zealous  co-laborers.  The  harvest  fields,  the  mills  and  manufacto- 
ry, the  kitchen,  the  laundry,  the  service  of  tables  and  chambers, 
all  departments  of  this  complex  industry,  were  represented  in  this 
review,  progress  noted,  defects  complained  of,  criticisms  made,  and 
honors  awarded. 

I  had  a  better  opportunity  than  before  to  notice  the  ease,  free- 
dom, and  entire  self-command,   with  which  every  one  spoke  his 


ESPERANZA.  167 

thought,  and  also  the  clear  enunciation,  pure  elocution,  and  choice 
phraseology,  which  have  become  habitual  in  the  whole  society. 
There  was  not  a  harsh  tone,  uncouth  expression,  or  any  vulgarity 
of  speech.  It  was  a  school  of  graceful  elocution.  How  beautiful 
it  seems  to  me  to  have  all  the  children  here  growing  up  amid  the 
teaching  of  such  examples.  There  were  in  this  assembly,  twenty 
little  speeches  made,  of  from  one  to  five  minutes  duration,  by 
men,  women,  and  even  the  older  children.  My  little  friend  Angela, 
for  example,  gave  a  very  pretty  report  in  the  Floral  depart- 
ment. 

This  session  closed  with  a  statement  by  Manlius,  of  the  general 
results  or  proceeds  of  their  combined  industry.  These  results  were 
surprising  to  me,  and  very  animating,  I  could  see  to  those  interest- 
ed. The  wheat  harvest,  just  completed,  had  added  six  thousand 
bushels  of  the  surplus  wealth,  allowing  so  much  to  be  sent  off  on 
the  Fairy,  groimd  into  flour  for  the  market  of  New  Orleans.  The 
stocks  ot  preserved  fruits,  perfumery,  oil,  etc.  were  also  of  con- 
siderable value  ;  while  the  great  work  of  the  harvest  had  diminish- 
ed the  results  of  manufacturers.  The  feeling  of  this  wealth  and 
abundance  was  not  one  of  greed ;  but  of  strength,  and  freedom 
from  care — of  power  and  peace.  Riches,  I  saw,  gained  by  labor, 
and  the  product  of  nature  and  industry,  were  not  despised,  but 
held  in  proper  estimation.  It  is  beautiful  to  see  a  whole  com- 
munity living  in  perfect  honesty  ;  fed  and  clothed  by  sun,  air,  and 
earth,  and  their  own  free,  voluntary,  and  harmonious  labors.  No 
one  plunders  or  is  plundered — no  one  has  any  occasion  to  do  or 
suffer  any  injustice.  Whatever  is  sold  to  the  outside  world,  is  sold 
at  the  market  price  ;  but  it  is  the  best  of  its  kind,  and  always  what 
it  purports  to  be.  Whatever  is  made  is  done  "upon  honor,"  and 
is  of  more  worth  than  the  'iPual  manufactures,  and  will  in  time 
command  a  higher  price. 

At  eleven  o'clock  there  was  an  Educational  Review,  which  in- 
terested me  even  more  than  the  review  of  industry.  Vincent 
presided  at  this  ;  for  to  this  important  work  he  has  given  his 
chief  attention.  From  the  first,  all  had  to  be  educated.  All,  the 
elder  as  well  as  the   younger,  needed   to  come   under  a  thorough 


1G8  LsPERANZA. 

training,  and,  beginning  at  the  elements  of  science  'uJ  mental 
discipline,  put  themselves  in  the  path  of  progress. 

I  found  now  how  this  work  was  done,  at  interval  --^ .]:  day, 
without  confinement,  without  severe  labor;  but  with  at^jnciion  and 
enthusiasm.  The  groups  of  education  were  like  the  ji'O'ipb  of 
industry.  The  most  capable  were  alternately  leaders  oi  groups,  ib 
sciences  and  various  branches  of  culture  ;  and  these  reported  pro- 
gress. Exercises  were  also  given  in  elocution  and  declamation- 
The  groups  or  sections  of  the  sciences  were  large  ;  the  same  person 
belonging  to  several  groups.  In  this  way  are  cultivated  geometry 
and  the  mathematical  branches  ;  astronomj'^  and  the  natural  sciences, 
going  up  to  general  and  human  physiology,  phrenology  and 
psychology.  Brief  essays  were  read,  giving  the  study  of  the 
week  in  each  department.  In  all  this,  the  old  and  young  were 
alike  interested.  It  was  beautiful  to  see  a  man  or  woman  of  fifty 
learning  Greek  in  the  same  class  with  a  child  of  ten.  I  inquired 
of  the  progress  of  these  elder  scholars,  and  am  satisfied  that  amid 
the  awakening  and  invigorating  influences  of  this  life,  age  is  no 
obstacle  to  improvement. 

The  modern  languages  are  cultivated  with  assiduity  ;  particularly 
French,  German,  Spanish  and  Italian ;  and  it  is  arranged  that  the 
children  now  growing  up  shall  speak  all  these  as  well  as  the  English. 

Dinner  was  served  at  noon  with  festal  display  and  ceremony. 
The  band  Avas  larger  than  on  other  days,  the  music  of  a  higher 
character.  More  flowers  adorned  the  tables  ;  the  toilets  were  more 
beautiful.  Every  thing  marked  the  day  a  solemn  festival.  The 
pure  wine  of  Esperanza  was  drunTj  in  moderation,  and  more  as  a 
svmbol  of  this  lovino-  life  than  as  a  mere  beverao^e. 

So  passed  the  morning  hours,  my  Clara,  in  a  succession  of  inter- 
esting and  beautiful  spectacles.  It  was  all  religion  ;  all  worship  ; 
all  devotion  ;  but  of  that  character  which  belongs  to  life  ;  active 
and  real. 

Melodia  came  to  me  after  dinner,  saying,  "My  friend,  I  have  an 
nour  for  you,"  and  giving  me  her  hand  led  me  to  her  own  apart- 
ment. The  mid-day  was  warm  without,  but  sheltered  by  these 
double  walls,  and  with   the  system  of  cooling  ventilation,  there  is 


EsPEEANZA.  1^9 

ho  languor  within.  You  may  graduate  your  room  to  a  degree  of 
the  thermometer.  The  beautiful  one  reclined  gracefully  upon  a 
couch,  placing  cushions  for  me  at  her  side,  and  held  my  hand. 
Do  you  not  feel  how  much  I  thanked  her  for  this  trust  in  me  ?  Is 
it  possible  to  be  other  than  good,  under  such  an  influence  ?  Were 
I  ever  so  base,  or  sensually  depraved,  this  would  purify  and  ennoble 
me. 

She  held  my  hand  in  silence  a  few  moments,  first  with  her  eyes 
closed,  and  the  long,  shining  lashes  penciled  on  her  cheek  —  then 
looking  into  mine  Avith  an  expression  of  trust  and  hope.  I  uttered 
no  word — not  even  my  gratitude. 

"  You  love  me  ?  "  she  said,  at  length. 

I  kissed  the  beautiful  hand  I  held  in  mine. 

"  You  feel  sure  it  is  love  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  other  name  to  give  it." 

"Yet  you  love  another ;  others,  perhaps.  Look  into  your  heart 
and  see  how  these  sentiments  compare." 

I  tried  to  do  as  she  desired.  I  felt  my  love  for  you,  my  pre- 
cious one,  as  clear,  as  earnest,  as  much  a  portion  of  my  life,  as 
since  the  hour  it  came  to  m^,  a  vivifying  flame.  I  cannot  be  mis- 
taken in  this.  It  is  a  pure,  and  it  seems  to  me,  a  deathless  love. 
But  I  saw  and  felt  no  less,  that  I  love  the  beautiful  one,  who  has 
brouQ-ht  me  hither,  and  introduced  me  to  this  enchantinar  scene.  I 
find  also  that  I  have  a  tender  reverence  for  Harmonia;  that  my 
heart  yearns  fondly  to  the  spiritual  Serafa ;  that  I  am  deeply 
charmed  with  the  lovely  Evaline  ;  and  I  grew  alarmed  at  myself, 
as  I  recalled  my  real  feelings  toward  Laura  and  Eugenia. 

But  I  have  determined  to  live  the  true  life,  and  to  be  utterly 
honest  to  myself,  and  to  all  with  whom  I  am  in  any  true  relation ; 
and  I  owe  this  honesty  to  Melodia  more  than  to  any  one  but  you. 
So  I  told  her,  with  perfect  frankness,  and  in  as  fitting  terms  as  I 
could  find  to  express  my  emotions,  what  I  have  written  to  you. 

"  Were  you  compelled  to  choose  the  love  of  one  of  these,  and 
reject  the  others,  can  you  see  what  your  choice  would  be?"  she 
asked  me,  with  a  look  that  seemed  to  penetrate  the  depths  of  my 
spirit. 

15 


1 70  EsPEpANZA. 

•'What  I  ought  to  do  in  such  a  case,  is  evident  enough,"  I 
said  ;  "but  it  is  not  so  evident  how  I  could  do  it,  I  can  conceive 
of  no  power  which  could  compel  me  to  such  a  choice." 

"  If  Clara  were  to  demand  it  ?  " 

•*  She  could  not  and  would  not.  If  she  is  in  that  unity  with  me, 
which  makes  her  lovingly  mine,  she  must  understand  and  sympa- 
thize with  my  feelings,  and  would  ask  nothing  false  to  them.  A 
demand  of  exclusive  love  to  her,  and  an  exclusive  right  to  me, 
would  prove  that  she  did  not  belong  to  me.  So,  either  way,  there 
is  no  such  thing  possible." 

"You  have  learned  much  genuine  heart  lore,"  said  she,  "  since 
you  first  saw  me." 

"  I  have  had  excellent  teachers." 

"  It  is  not  so  much  that.  The  instinctive  life  of  the  heart  de- 
mands only  freedom,  that  it  may  attain  to  the  highest  wisdom.  I 
have  done  little  for  you,  but  to  set  you  free,  and  introduce  you  into 
a  society  where  the  emotions  of  the  spiritual  heart  are  as  free  as 
the  movements  of  the  material  circulation.  Here,  i-emoved  from 
all  outward  control  of  habit  and  custom,  you  have  been  free  to 
think  and  feel.  The  ideas  come  into  your  mind,  and  the  loves  into 
your  heart.  But  there  is  a  trial  before  you — how  severe,  I  cannot 
well  predict.  When  you  go  from  us,  the  sphere  of  the  old  life  will 
assert  its  power.  Should  the  one  you  love  join  with  that,  to  hold 
you  in  a  selfish  and  isolate  bondage,  we  may  lose  you." 

I  knelt  by  her  side,  dear  Clara  ;  I  pressed  her  jeweled  fingers  to 
my  lips,  and  1  promised  for  you  as  for  myself,  that  nothing  would 
ever  enslave  us,  but  that  we  would  live  the  life  of  freedom  now 
open  to  us.  Was  I  not  right  ?  Must  we  not  live  this  true  life  of  our 
spirits  ?  It  is  true  that  I  tremble,  and  that  my  heart  shrinks  when 
there  comes  to  me  the  fear  that  this  may  not  come  all  lovingly  to 
you  ;  but  in  my  deep  heart  I  have  an  undying  trust  in  your  truth 
and  goodness.  Forgive  me,  dear  Clara,  if  even  this  assertion 
seems  to  imply  distrust. 

"She  will  come  with  me,"  I  said.  "I  can  answer  for  her  as 
for  myself.  She  will  come  to  our  thought,  and  life,  and  our  beau- 
tiful bora'',  and  you  will  love  us  !  " 


EsPERANZA.  ^'^l 

"We  shall  all  love  you,  as  you  are  able  to  attract  our  love.  The 
earth  draws  all  things  to  herself,  according  to  their  capacity  of 
attraction.  In  freedom,  love  is  attraction  and  obeys  the  same 
laws. 

"  You  will  leave  us  soon  —  we  cannot  hope  to  detain  you  many 
days  longer ;  but  you  will  come  to  us  again,  and  not  alone  ;  and 
you  will  come  very  liappy,  and  both  will  find  your  happiness 
increased.  Live  but  our  life,  in  its  truth  and  purity,  and  the 
earthly  heaven  opens  before  you." 

She  bent  forward  and  pressed  her  lips  upon  my  cheek  —  then 
rose  to  change  her  toilette,  and  I  went  also  to  prepare  for  the 
afternoon  and  evening,  and  whatever  they  should  bring  to  me. 


At  two  o'clock,  all  who  chose  to  do  so,  and  nearly  all  must  have 
so  chosen,  visited  the  gallery  of  art.  The  drawings,  pictures, 
carvings,  and  statuary,  finished  during  the  past  Aveek,  took  their 
places  in  the  gallery,  and  were  inscribed  with  the  names  of  the 
artists.  The  visitors  brought  single  flowers,  bouquets  and  little 
garlands,  and  each  one  hung  flower  or  garland  upon  the  picture  or 
statue  he  liked  best,  or  which  showed  most  improvement.  It  was 
an  ovation  to  art.  Some  were  not  content  with  marking  the  works 
of  art  in  this  way,  but  also  crowned  the  artists  with  garlands  or 
enriched  them  with  bouquets.  So  I  found  the  gentle  and  tasteful, 
and  now,  in  the  excitement  of  this  triumph,  beautiful  Evaline, 
walking  in  a  cloud  of  perfume — incense  to  her  art  genius.  Melodia 
had  saved  a  few  of  the  most  fragrant,  but  had  resigned  most  of  her 
honors  to  younger  aspirants  ;  and  as  lastes  are  various,  and  friend- 
ship and  encouragement  go  for  something,  all  who  had  made 
earnest  endeavors  found  their  reward. 

From  the  Gallery  of  Art,  we  went  to  the  Hall  of  Science,  dedi- 
cated for  this  hour  to  the  muses.  Here,  in  a  deep  hush  of  delight' 
Serafa  read  a  noble  poem,  which  was  greeted  at  the  close  with 
plaudits  and  laurel  crowns.  Next  came  Melodia,  with  a-i  ode,  not 
yet  married  to  music,  but  which  almost  sang  itself  in  the  purity 
of  her  reading.  Then  Hnrmonia  read  one  of  those  wonderful 
inspirations  of  the  spirit  life,  which  give,  in   themselves,  the  best 


172  ESPERANZA. 

evidence  of  their  divine  origin.  Serafa  and  Melodia  give  us  their 
own  best  life  in  verse ;  but  Harmonia  gives  us  the  pure  life  of 
the  heavens.     They  crowned  her  with  a  garland  of  white  lilies. 

I  have  not  transcribed  these  poems  for  you.  You  must  read 
them  here. 

We  rested  until  four  o'clock,  when  the  only  service  of  the  day, 
which  would  be  considered  specially  religious,  found  place.  It  is 
the  hour  devoted  to  general  communion  with  spirit  life.  In  a 
circular  hall,  lighted  from  above,  with  a  subdued  light,  the  whole 
assembly  sat  in  a  profound  silence.  Melodia  went  to  a  beautifully 
toned  seraphine,  and  sang  an  invocation,  which,  if  it  had  failed  to 
call  spirits  from  the  heavens,  would  almost  take  us  there.  We  sat 
there  still,  in  a  silence  broken  only  by  sighs,  until  Harmonia  rose, 
and  in  a  manner,  very  different  from  her  usual  one,  spoke  to  the 
assembly  with  a  power  of  eloquence,  a  depth  of  love,  and  a  wisdom, 
transcending  any  thing  I  had  ever  heard  of  mortal  utterance.  It 
seemed  the  Heavenly  Society  speaking  to  the  Earthly,  lovingly, 
earnestly,  reprovingly,  and,  withal,  still  encouragingly.  If  an 
angel  spoke  not,  it  was  still  an  angelic  utterance.  But  no  one  here 
doubted  for  a  moment,  that  the  thought  and  love  was  heavenly. 
It  was  an  earnest  exhortation  to  purity,  to  integrality,  to  progress 
in  the  Life  of  Harmony  ;  a  promise  that  faithfulness  to  every  duty, 
and  the  highest  love  of  the  spirit  should  lead  to  a  continual  expan- 
sion and  elevation  of  this  life,  and  in  consequence  to  a  continual 
increase  of  happiness. 

She  ended  with  a  serene  benediction,  and  the  whole  assembly 
rose  and  sang  a  hymn  of  solemn  joy. 

The  remainder  of  the  afternoon  was  devoted  to  many  little 
festivals  of  groups,  composed  of  persons  drawn  together  by  the 
most  intimate  sympathy  ;  groups  of  friendship  always,  often  groups 
of  love.  I  found  myself  with  those  who  have  become  so  dear  to 
me,  and  was  glad  to  be  accepted  as  one  whom  they  could  trust, 
and  whom  they  might  love,  should  the  future  prove  me  worthy. 
In  our  lit  le  company  I  saw  more  of  Vincent's  social  qualities  than 
heretofore.  He  talked,  sang,  and  enjoyed  a  restful  repose ;  laying 
aside  the  care  which  has  become  habitual  to  him  and  bringing 


ESPERANZA.  1 73 

out  those  genial  qualities  which  have  surrounded  him  with  a  loving 
devotion. 

Each  group  male  its  Sunday  supper,  either  in  a  private  apart- 
ment, or  in  the  groves,  or  on  the  shore  of  the  lake.  Some  made 
gipsy  parties  in  the  woods,  and  cooked  their  suppers  in  the  most 
primitive  fashion.  The  more  central  the  group  in  this  society,  the 
more  simple  the  food.  Our  gr.mp,  to-day,  ate  only  farinaceous 
food  and  fruits,  believing  that  the  spiritual  love  life  is  best  nourished 
on  these  pure  viands.  These,  with  a  little  wine  and  sugar,  made 
our  repast.  It  was  a  genuine  love  feast,  in  the  sentiment  of  whicli 
all  participated  ;  or,  if  I  am  still  an  exception,  it  is  not  wholly  so  ; 
and  I  fervently  hope  will  not  so  remain.  It  was  a  harmony  in 
which  I  could  detect  no  discordant  tone  —  a  loving  unity  where 
every  heart  throb  found  its  response  in  every  other  bosom. 

The  sunset  hymn  has  always  the  religious  element,  but  it 
seemed  more  strongly  expressed  this  Sunday  evening  than  on  other 
days,  or  I  was  more  fitted  to  its  appreciation.  The  glorious  imaoe 
of  creative  power  and  love,  sank  in  mild  splendors.  The  festal 
flag  which  had  floated  in  the  breeze  all  day,  was  now  deposited  in 
its  sacred  place,  for  the  week ;  and  all  prepared  for  the  musical 
review  which  was  to  be  the  fitting  close  of  this  day  of  rest  and  joy. 

I  found  the  great  Music  Hall  freshly  decorated  with  evergreens 
and  flowers.  •  The  review  consisted  of  the  past  week's  progress  and 
achievement.  First,  there  marched  into  the  room  a  corps  of  little 
fifers  and  drummers,  boys  and  girls  from  six  to  twelve  years  old, 
marching  in  very  creditable  time,  playing  simple  airs,  and  beatino- 
their  parchment  with  remarkable  precision ;  and  as  cymbals,  trian- 
gles, and  tambourines  were  not  wanting,  they  made  a  very  enliven- 
ing music.  They  marched  around  the  center  of  the  hall,  were 
handsomely  applauded,  and  took  their  seats,  in  the  great  orchestra. 

Next  came  a  class  of  musical  pupils  on  various  instruments  of 
a  higher  grade,  forming  a  band,  as  yet  of  moderate  attainment  in 
execution,  but  showing  excellent  training  and  zealous  practice. 

Afcer  these  came  solo  performers,  vocal  and  instrumental.  Songs 
newly  learned,  and  original  songs  and  music  came  to  us  in  all  their 
freshness,  and  were  applauded  according  to  the  impression  they 


174  ESPEBANZA. 

produced.  Some  of  these  were  full  of  local  allusions  and  home 
feeling ;  they  were  sung  with  a  beautiful  abandon,  and  responded 
to  with  an  enthusiasm,  glowing,  but  never  boisterous. 

Finally,  we  had  two  new  chorusses,  one  for  the  morning,  the 
other  for  the  evening  parade  ;  a  grand  march,  and  a  glorious  sym- 
phony, which  was  a  musical  revelation  of  the  life  and  work  of 
Esperanza. 

Melodia  had  composed  it,  and  now  directed  its  first  public  per- 
formance. In  it  was  expressed  the  break  of  day,  the  musical 
awakening,  the  play  of  the  fountains,  the  gathering  to  the  parade, 
the  sunrise  hymn,  and  the  morning  gun ;  then  the  departure  of  the 
groups  ot  industry,  and  all  the  scenes  of  the  day.  The  children's 
band  of  fifers  and  drummers  was  introduced  with  beautiful  effect. 
As  the  symphony  proceeded,  it  gathered  warmth  and  richness, 
corresponding  to  the  pleasures  of  the  afternoon.  Then  came  a 
musical  rendering  of  the  delightful  supper  parties.  This  was  a 
gay  and  lovely  passage  ;  then  the  gorgeous  sunset  hymn ;  and  the 
finale  of  the  evening  festival,  which  was  indescribably  light,  joyous, 
and  enchanting,  closing  with  a  few  soft  chords,  full  of  repose  and 
loving  sweetness,  as  if  sinking  into  dreamy  slumbers,  ending  with 
a  pianissimo  passage  of  a  delicious  serenade. 

At  this  ending,  the  whole  house,  which  had  sat  eager  and 
breathless,  rose,  spectators  and  musicians  alike,  and  applauded 
Melodia,  who  stood  by  her  music  stand,  pale  and  agitated.  Vin- 
cent, who  had  played  in  the  orchestra,  came  forward  to  congratulate 
her.  He  picked  up  a  wreath  that  had  been  thrown  to  her,  but 
before  he  could  place  it  on  her  head,  the  lovely  head  sank  upon 
his  bosom.     She  threw  her  arms  around  him  and  burst  into  tears. 

But  the  plaudits  recalled  her  from  the  one  to  the  many.  She 
raised  her  head,  and  now  radiant  with  a  flush  and  a  smile  of  joy, 
thanked  the  musicians  for  their  performance  of  her  work,  and  all 
for  their  generous  applause. 

The  festival  was  ended,  and  its  queen,  crowned  with  flowers,  then 
came  among  us,  and  received  our  individual  congratulations.  I 
did  not  press  forward,  where  so  many  had  an  older  if  not  a  better 
claim ;  but  she  soon  came  to  me  and  held  out  her  hand.     As  I 


EsPERANiA.  175 

pressed  it  to  my  lips,  the  scenes  of  the  brief  past  flushed  through 
my  memory  :  the  first  meeting  in  the  cars  ;  the  hours  at  Niagara ; 
the  pilgrimage  and  the  journey  by  lake  and  river ;  our  beautiful 
voyage  on  the  Fairy,  and  now  the  life  of  Esperanza. 

Oh  Clara,  were  you  but  here  to  live  this  life,  and  partake  of  all 
this  happiness  !     Patience,  oh  heart  of  mine  !     Patience  and  Hope  ! 

How  rich  and  beautiful,  0  mine,  is  every  phase  of  this  life ! 
What  a  contrast  has  this  day  been  with  the  dull,  tiresome,  solemn 
Sundays  of  our  puritanical  Pharisees,  who  "for  a  pretense  make 
long  prayers!"  It  has  been  a  day  of  rest,  but  not  of  idlenees;  a 
day  sf  repose,  but  not  of  a  miserable  solemnity ;  a  day  of  recreation, 
full  of  joy  in  the  present,  and  blissful  anticipations  of  the  future. 

Ail  the  days  seem  long  here,  so  filled  are  they  with  uses  and 
pleasures.  At  night,  I  think  over  so  many  pleasant  events,  that  it 
seems  as  if  they  must  have  required  a  week  for  their  occurrence. 
And  this  Sunday,  it  seems  like  many  great  festal  days  combined  in 
one,  and  each  event  is  crowded  with  delightful  memories. 

And  now  a  new  week  opens  to  me — one  more  week  of  absence 
from  you — one  more  week  of  the  enjoyment  of  this  earthly  paradise. 
I  have  the  hope  that  you  will  be  content  with  the  delay,  and  have 
such  sympathy  with  my  enjoyment  of  this  life,  and  such  a  desire 
to  know  all  I  can  learn  of  it,  that  you  will  not  wish  me  to  be  in 
haste  to  leave  it,  only  that  you  may  the  sooner  come  with  me.  I 
have  a  week  to  learn  the  deepest  workings  of  this  life.  I  have 
given  you  its  external  aspect ;  something  you  may  have  gleaned  of 
the  heart-life  already,  but  that  I  have  yet  to  penetrate  more  fully, 
for  I  feel  that  it  is  in  the  heart,  or  love-life,  of  this  society  that 
reposes  its  divinest  charm.  The  dear  friends  here,  I  am  sure, 
will  hide  nothing  from  me. 


XI. 

BCONOMICS.    • 

Mr  Clara  ; — I  resolved  to  devote  the  remaining  days  of  my 
sojourn  here  to  a  more  careful  investigation  of  the  details  of  this 
life,  both  by  personal  observation  and  inquiry.  I  wish  to  know, 
not  only  the  external  economics  of  wealth  and  its  distribution,  but 
the  nature  of  those  internal  relations  which  are  the  chief  sources 
of  happiness.  As  all  here  know  and  trust  me  ;  as  I  am  recognized 
as  a  friend  and  brother,  not  only  in  the  central  group,  but  in  the 
entire  body,  from  the  noble  and  venerable  Father  Gautier,  Avhom  I 
have  described  to  you,  to  the  infant  that  hides  its  little  head  in  my 
bosom,  all  this  life  is  free  and  open  to  me. 

I  have  talked  with  Vincent,  Manlius,  Alfred  ;  with  Harmonia, 
Melodia,  and  Laura  :  and  many  others  have  answered  my  inquiries 
upon  particular  points.  Some  of  the  great  problems  of  political 
economy  have  here  found  an  easy,  because  a  natural,  solution. 

"First  of  all,"  said  Vincent,  of  whom  I  made  my  earliest 
inquiry,  "  the  Domain  is  ours.  We  pay  no  rent  or  interest  for  the 
air  we  breathe,  the  water  we  drink,  or  the  earth  we  cultivate.  It 
has  come  to  us  all,  a  free  gift,  as  it  came  to  man  from  the  Creator. 
Father  Gautier,  a  Frenchman  of  New  Orleans,  a  pupil  and  friend 
of  Charles  Fourier,  was  led  by  Providence  and  his  own  generous 
impulses,  twenty  years  ago,  to  explore  this  region,  and  to  select  and 
secure  this  tract  of  country,  as  the  domain  of  a  future  association. 
He  became  acquainted  with  us,  through  our  Melodia,  who  found 
him.  when  she  was  spending  a  winter  in  New  Orleans.  Next  to 
him,  she  has  been  our  good  angel,  for  she  was  the  inheritor  of  a 
considerable  fortune,  the  most  of  which  she  devoted  to  building 
our  home.  We  had  all  saved  what  we  could,  during  the  years  of 
17G 


ESPKKAXZA.  177 

our  probation,  so  that  we  began  our  life  here  with  prosperous  con- 
ditions. Our  father  has  found  a  beautiful  home  and  a  great  family 
of  loving  children.  It  is  not  the  Phalansterie  of  Fourier,  as  he 
planned  it  in  his  Ear'^h-life,  when  he  so  ardently  longed  to  see  its 
realization  ;  but  it  is  the  growing  harmony,  over  which  he  presides 
joyfully,  as  one  of  its  guardian  spirits,  in  the  life  of  the  Heavens. 

"  So  much,  then,  was  provided ;  and  we  entered  upon  our  domain 
with  the  means  of  comfort  at  hand,  and  ample  security  against 
immediate  need.  Socialists  have  adopted  two  theories  of  economy. 
They  have  been  either  communists,  having  no  individual  inter- 
ests and  property  ;  or  individualists,  with  personal  or  joint  stock 
interests.  We  did  not  feel  like  making  an  utter  surrender  of 
mdividual  rights  and  freedom,  as  in  the  communities  of  the  early 
and  some  of  the  later  christians,  as  the  Rappites  and  Shakers ;  nor 
yet  could  we  willingly  enter  upon  the  complicated  individual 
accounts  of  the  Phalansterian  Association.  So  we  stopped  all 
planning  and  calculating,  and  let  the  economies  settle  themselves. 

Our  family  is  a  body,  composed  of  members,  involving  general 
and  particular  interests.  There  are  the  common  wants  and  neces- 
sities to  be  supplied ;  and  also  individual  tastes  to  be  gratified.  A 
natural  method  provides  for  all.  The  land  is  ours  by  a  perpetual 
free  lease.  The  buildings  belong  to  us  by  a  like  tenure.  All  the 
improvements  belong  to  all — that  is  to  us,  in  out  unitary  capacity  ; 
and  out  of  this  common  store,  all  common  wants  are  abundantly 
provided,  by  the  common  industry. 

"  So  far,  this  was  well ;  but  beyond  this  are  the  wants  of  the 
particular  life  of  the  individual ;  and  for  those  also,  there  has  been 
made  a  satisfactory  provision.  Many  of  our  members  have  the 
savings  of  former  years  to  expend  upon  their  individual  tastes — but 
more  often  for  the  general  happiness.  For  instance,  we  buy  musi- 
cal instruments,  books,  pictures ;  or  we  use  our  leisure  time  in 
decorating  our  theater  or  assembly  rooms  ;  or  we  indulge  in  some 
luxuries  of  dress  and  personal  adornment.  It  is  not  for  ourselves 
alone,  but  for  all  others." 

"  But  you  have  accounts  of  kbor  and  wages,  and  of  articles  pur- 
chased for  individual  use  ?" 


170  ESPERANZA. 

"  They  are  few  and  simple.  To  credit  each  member  with  so 
many  hours  of  labor,  and  charge  him  or  her  with  so  many  weeks 
board,  and  so  much  clothing,  would  be  useless.  Ours  is  a  family 
in  which  all  work  according  to  their  ability  and  the  general  need, 
and  all  receive  according  to  their  requirements,  and  our  abundance 
places  us  above  tlie  necessity  of  any  meanness.  In  civilization, 
millions  of  idlers  and  drones  are  supported  by  those  who  labor. 
Shall  we  trouble  ourselves,  here,  where  all  work  from  attraction, 
and  labor,  as  yovi  see,  is  full  of  charm,  because  the  weak  and  the 
young  cannot  do  as  much  as  the  strong  and  mature  ?  No — in  our 
life  the  strong  man  glories  in  his  strength,  and  gives  of  it  freely  for 
the  general  good,  just  as  the  tasteful  woman  gives  her  beauty  of 
work  or  life.  We  all  work,  more  or  less,  in  the  needful  works  of 
industry  ;  we  all  do  what  we  can  also  for  the  beauty  of  life.  You 
can  see  that  the  strong  worker  in  the  field  or  shop,  who  works 
from  impulse  or  attraction,  must  be  proud  to  put  his  useful  labor 
against  the  genius  and  skill,  which  delight  him  in  music,  in  the 
theater,  and  in  all  that  embellishes  the  life  of  our  society.  It  is 
so  even  in  civilization.  What  man,  who  loves  his  wife  and 
daughters,  and  toils  for  their  support,  but  rejoices  when  he  comes 
home  at  night,  and  one  plays  and  sings  to  him,  another  shows  him 
some  beautiful  work,  and  another  reads  aloud  for  his  amusement  ? 
In  our  large  family  this  feeling  is  much  stronger." 

"Then  I  see  no  use  of  accounts,  at  all."  I  said. 

"  We  try  to  keep  on  the  safe  side,  and  just  reckonings  do  no  mis- 
chief, and  may  sometimes  be  a  useful  check  to  individual  extrava- 
gances." 

"And  you  find  no  difficulty  from  selfishness,  which  is  the  bane 
of  civilization  ?" 

"  No.  Selfishness  is  balanced  by  the  corporate  spirit.  Each 
individual  finds  himself  richer  here  for  all  practical  purposes,  than 
he  could  ever  hope  to  have  become  in  civilization.  Melodia,  for 
example,  could  not  possibly  have  expended  or  invested  her  wealth 
in  any  way,  to  so  much  advantage.  Few  monarchs  have  so  many 
sources  of  pleasure  as  are  here  the  right  of  all.  The  individual  sel- 
fishness, acquisitiveness,  and  the  monopolizing  spirit  which  poisons 


Esperaxza!  1 79 

the  life  of  society,  has  gradually  subsided  here.  With  plenty  has 
come  a  spirit  of  generosity,  which  tends  constantly  to  equilibrium, 
like  the  radiation  of  heat  by  physical  bodies.  Every  one  asks,  not, 
what  can  I  gain,  or  get  ?  how  can  I  secure  my  happiness  ?  but 
what  can  I  give,  and  how  can  I  promote  the  happiness  of  others  ? 
In  the  world's  poverty,  material  and  spiritual,  all  are  beggars  or 
thieves  ;  in  our  wealth,  external  and  internal,  all  are  seeking  to 
bestow  something  on  others.  And  as  every  one  who  has  any  good 
or  beautiful  thought  or  thing,  wishes  to  bestow  it  on  one  or  many, 
— all  are  thus  enriched.  It  is  a  condition  in  which  it  is  better  to 
give  than  to  receive  ;  and  in  which  all  are  givers  and  all  receivers." 

"And  there  is  no  difficulty  in  securing  the  necessary  labors  of 
the  domain?" 

"There  is  a  pride  in  doing  more  than  is  needful.  As  men  offer 
seats,  or  service  to  women  ;  as  the  strong  protect  the  weak,  every 
where,  by  a  natural  instinct,  where  humanity  is  not  utterly  de- 
praved ;  so,  here,  the  constant  tendency  of  the  stronger  is  to  take 
on  more  than  their  share  of  the  common  burthen.  We  are  obliged 
to  plan  attractive  amusements  to  prevent  excessive  labor ;  for  when 
industry  becomes  an  enthusiasm,  it  will  run  into  excess,  if  not 
balanced  by  other  means." 

I  left  Vincent  to  the  work  of  the  morning,  which  was  the  corre- 
spondence of  the  Home,  in  which  he  was  assisted  by  Harmonia 
and  Estelle,  a  radiant  girl,  with  a  fine  talent  for  literary  work,  a 
strong  good  sense,  and  an  earnest  devotion. 

Looking  toward  a  field  of  green  peas,  I  saw  a  group — mostly  of 
children,  engaged  in  gathering  them,  to  be  preserved  in  large  cans 
for  the  wintei's  supply,  and  for  sale. 

Laura  presided  over  this  nice  harvest,  and  the  little  carts  with 
dogs  and  goats,  and  the  tables  of  the  little  shellers  were  in  full  and 
gleeful  activity.  It  was  easy  to  see  that  the  field  would  be  exhaust- 
ed, before  these  workers  would  begin  to  weary — Laura  found  no 
difficulty  in  overlooking  this  work,  and  talking  with  me  as  I 
assisted  in  the  gathering. 

"Mistress  Laura,"  said  I,   "  how  would  you  like  to  be  rich  ?" 

"  I  have  never  thought  about  it.     I  have  all  I  want ;   and  if  1 


180  'EsPERANZA. 

wish  to  make  presents,  what  is  better  than  a  wreath  of  flowers,  or 
something  I  can  make  ?  " 

"  But  this  diamond  ring,  that  Melodia  gave  you  ?"  said  I — 
"  would  you  not  hke  to  give  her  something  of  equal  value  ?" 

"  What !  to  neutralize  her  gift,  and  acquit  myself  of  a  burthen- 
some  obligation  ?  That  would  be  the  world's  way ;  but  I  love  her 
too  well,  and  am  too  happy  to  be  obliged  to  her.  She  is  happy 
in  being  able  to  make  such  presents,  but  I  do  not  see  that  I  am 
not  just  as  happy  in  receiving  them.  She  is  rich;  but  not  for 
herself.  VVe  all  partake  of  her  riches ;  and  she  has  only  a  little 
more  care.  No — I  think  I  had  rather  be  as  I  am.  I  have  all  I 
want." 

I  found  no  element  of  dissatisfaction  in  my  lively  and  lovely 
friend  ;  so  I  went  to  one  of  the  work  shops,  where  a  group  of 
musicians  were  making  musical  instruments,  a  favorite  and  profit- 
able branch  of  manufacture.  In  these  shops  an  account  of  work  is 
kept,  and  a  certain  portion  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sales  are  distrib- 
uted to  the  individual  workers.  And  here,  as  in  the  other 
departments,  those  who  choose  to  work  in  the  hours  of  recreation, 
have  the  net  proceeds  of  their  industry.  I  found  here  a  musical 
German,  who  has  succeeded  in  making  some  violins  of  great  value. 
These,  like  other  works  of  art,  are  sold,  and  the  proceeds  are 
equitably  divided  between  the  general  and  the  individual  claimants. 
Thus,  a  violin  made  in  three  or  four  weeks,  with  the  care  and  skill 
required  for  a  fine  instrument,  is  sold  for  from  one  to  two  hundred 
dollars.  If  the  maker  has  given  his  whole  time  to  the  work,  there 
is  deducted  from  the  sale,  the  equivalent  of  his  proportion  of  the 
common  labor  ;  but  if  he  has  performed  his  usual  work  besides, 
he  can  receive  the  entire  proceeds,  less  the  cost  of  sale.  And  this 
German  was  working  hard,  to  get  money  to  bring  two  sisters  from 
Germany,  with  whom  he  had  corresponded,  and  who  wished  to 
join  him  here. 

Manlius,  who  has  a  special  talent  for  arranging  equilibriums, 
settles  all  these  accounts,  and  with  such  an  evident  justice,  that  no 
one  can  be  dissatisfied  with  his  decision. 

I  spoke  to  him  to-day  about  the  little  property  that  is  coming  ttf 


EsPERANZA.  1 8  1 

you ;  wishing  to  know  what  disposition  he  would  advise,  or  what 
would  be  customaiy  respecting  it. 

"She  can  do  as  she  likes,"  he  said.  "It  can  remain  in  stocks 
or  mortgages,  and  bring  her  interest,  which  will  be  her  individual 
property  :  or  it  may  be  invested  with  us,  in  buildings  or  machinery. 
But  we  can  pay  no  interest  or  usury  to  any.  No  such  burthen  can 
be  thrown  upon  us.  Capital  advanced,  may  be  withdrawn  ;  but  it 
must  not  be  a  burthen  upon  industry.  If  civilizees  choose  to  bear 
such  burthens,  paying  the  cost  of  houses  and  lands  twenty  times 
over,  and  binding  themselves  in  a  perpetual  slavery  to  a  constantly  ' 
growing  capital,  we  cannot  help  it.  They  may  as  well  be  enslaved 
and  pay  this  tribute  to  you  as  to  another;  but  we  must  not  enslave 
each  other.  The  most  of  us  have  our  capital  invested  here,  as 
loans,  without  interest,  liable,  but  not  likely  to  be  recalled." 

"But  is  it  just?"  I  asked,  with  all  my  financial  prejudices  ;  "Is 
it  just  to  use  the  capital  of  another,  without  paying  him  for  its  use '?" 

"I  will  answer  yuur  question,"  said  Manlius,  "  by  asking  you  a 
few  others,  and  so  put  you  in  a  way  of  answering  it  for  yourself, 
which  may  be  more  to  your  satisfaction.  Is  it  just  for  a  man  to 
take  possession  of  the  earth,  "and  compel  those  who  till  it  to  give 
him  a  share  of  its  products?  Is  it  just  that  a  tenant  of  a  house, 
in  fifty  years,  should  pay  rent  enough  to  an  idle  landlord,  to  build 
five  more  such  houses,  whose  tenants  also  are  in  like  manner 
enslaved  to  him?  Is  it  right  that  a  man,  who,  by  inheritance, 
or  some  fraudful  speculation,  or  by  aggregating  the  petty  thefts  and 
spoils  of  miserly  accumulation,  should  be  able  to  command  the 
whole  time  and  labor  of  ten,  or  a  hundred,  or  a  thousand  men,  to 
enable  him,  not  only  to  live  in  luxury  and  idleness,  but  to  still 
further  accumulate  the  means  of  enslaving  his  fellow  men  ?  This 
is  the  financial  system  of  civilization." 

"But  in  the  system  of  Fourier,"  I  replied,  "the  proceeds  of 
industry  are  divided  between  capital,  talent  and  labor." 

"  It  is  true.  Fourier  was  a  financier.  He  wished  to  interest 
capitalists,  as  such,  in  association.  He  oflfered  it  as  a  good  invest- 
ment ;  but  the  money  lenders  were  wiser  than  he.  They  saw  that 
talent  and  industry  would  not  long  remain  in  a  useless  servitude  to 


\ 82  EsPEEANZA. 

money.  We  devote  ourselves,  our  lives,  our  talent,  our  industry, 
to  the  life  of  our  society.  Shall  we  not  devote  to  it  our  accidental 
possessions  i  If  the  money  we  chance  to  have  is  returned  to  us, 
when  required,  we  lose  nothing,  and  no  one  is  burthened.  To  pay 
interest,  rent,  or  usury,  is  a  necessity  of  civilization,  but  can  have 
no  place  in  a  free  and  harmonic  society." 

As  I  passed  across  the  lawn,  I  saw  the  aged  Father  Gautier, 
sitting  in  the  shade,  alone,  save  a  little  girl  of  seven  or  eight  years 
of  ao-e,  who  sat  at  his  feet,  quietly,  as  if  to  attend  to  any  want. 
The  wind  played  with  his  white  locks,  and  his  eyes  seemed  looking 
into  the  future.  As  I  came  near,  he  saw  me,  and  with  a  wave  of 
the  hand,  signed  me  a  gracious  invitation  to  approach. 

"  Good  day,  my  young  friend,"  he  said,  holding  out  his  hand, 
feebly.  I  took  it  and  remarked  that  his  face  had  changed.  It  had 
less  strength  than  when  I  saw  him  last,  but  a  more  serene  happiness. 

"You  have  been  ill,  mon  pf:re,"  I  said. 

"  I  am  old,  monjils,"  said  he.  "  Old,  and  with  a  life,  wasted  in 
the  struggles  of  the  world.  But  I  have  no  regrets.  This,"  waving 
his  hand  toward  the  Home,  "  pays  me  for  all.  No  triumph  is  like 
this.  Tlie  earth  has  no  such  glory.  I  thank  the  benign  God,  that 
I  was  permitted  to  choose  and  secure  this  Home  for  the  dear  ones 
who  were  ready  to  enter  it.  'Now  lettest  thou  thy  servant  depart 
in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy  salvation.'  " 

The  tears  of  joy  ran  down  the  old  man's  face,  and  m-y  eyes,  too, 
were  moistened. 

"And  you  are  satisfied  with  your  family?"  I  said,  cheerfully. 

"Satisfied?  Ah,  yes.  They  are  all  good  children.  They  live 
in  peace,  and  love,  and  harmony.  It  is  the  Eden  of  which  we 
dreamed.  I  remember,  when  we  used  to  talk  of  such  possi- 
bilities, how  we  were  ridiculed  and  satirized  as  visionaries  and 
fanatics.  1  wish  I  could  see  them  here — but  no.  They  would 
spoil  our  paradise.  They  are  not  worthy  ;  and  it  could  not  come 
until  there  were  those  who  were  worthy. 

"Is  that  my  child,  Melodia,  coming?"  he  asked,  with  a  bright- 
ening eye.  My  poor  senses  fail.  I  shall  not  be  here  long,  so  I 
must  have  all   I  can  of  my  doar  ones.     Call  her,  my  Constance;" 


EsPERANZA.  183 

and  the  child  ran  to  bring  the  queenly  Melodia,  who  had  already 
turned  to  come  to  us.  Constance  took  her  offered  hand  and  led  her 
to  the  good  father. 

"  How  does  my  beautiful  one  to-day  ?  "  asked  the  old  man,  as 
she  knelt  beside  him  and  put  his  feeble  hand  to  her  rosy  lips. 

"  Very  well,  Father,  and  very  happy ;  but  I  wish  you  were 
better." 

"  I  shall  be  better  soon,  my  dear,"  he  replied  with  animation. 
"  Very  soon  I  shall  be  as  lively  as  any  of  you,  and  as  handsome, 
perhaps.  And  have  a  finer  home  than  this,  and  more  lovely 
scenery." 

"  And  better  children,  Father  ?  " 

"Ah,  well,  I  don't  know.  Dear  ones  are  waiting  for  me  there 
also.  My  earliest  love,  my  beautiful  Marie  !  I  saw  her  last  night  in 
my  dreams,  a  radiant  angel,  with  her  blue  eyes  and  golden  hair, 
like  thine,  my  pretty  Constance.  She  smiled,  and  said,  '  a  little 
longer.'  It  will  be  but  a  little  now — but  do  not  weep,  my  children. 
Your  father  will  be  ever  near  you." 

Constance  wiped  her  eyes,  smiling  through  her  tears.  "I  know 
it,  dear  Father,"  she  said.  "You  will  go  and  find  just  such  a 
beautiful  home  for  us,  in  the  other  world,  as  you  have  in  this." 

The  old  man  did  not  reply,  but  his  face  lighted  with  a  smile  of 
joy  ineffable. 

I  spent  the  day,  my  Clara,  save  when  writing  to  you,  in  such 
inquiries  and  observations  as  I  have  briefly  noted.  I  visited  the 
shops  of  blacksmiths  and  wheel-wrights,  of  cabinet  makers  and 
makers  of  agricultural  implements,  as  well  as  the  studio  of  the 
artists,  and  the  makers  of  musical  instruments.  The  dignity  and 
attraction  of  labor,  here,  consists  in  the  use  or  beauty — which  is 
but  a  higher  use,  of  what  is  made.  In  every  department,  the  work 
is  constantly  inspected,  and  improvements  sought  for.  A  council 
of  construction  will  sit  on  a  plow,  or  rake,  or  axe  helve,  to  seek  the 
perfection  of  each.  So  it  is  with  every  manufacture.  I  hava 
never  seen  implements  combining  strength  and  lightness,  beauty 
of  form  and  perfection  in  use,  as  here. 

And  these  workmen,  uniting  science  with  taste,  and  the  individ* 


184  EdPKRANZA. 

ual  with  the  general  interest  and  welfare,  work  Avith  an  enthusiasm 
which  our  ordinary  methods  are  not  fitted  to  inspire.  In  our 
great  manufactories,  what  can  be  expected  but  that  the  capitalist 
will  be  anxious  only  to  make  as  cheap,  and  sell  as  dear  as  he  can, 
and  the  operatives  will  all  try  to  slight  their  work,  and  earn  their 
wages  as  easily  as  possible  ? 

I  have  paid  three  or  four  dollars  for  a  pair  of  cloth  gaiters  from 
a  Massachusetts  or  Connecticut  manufactory,  and  had  the  entire 
sole  peel  off  in  a  week,  as  if  it  had  been  put  on  with  paste. 
Wliole  cases,  doubtless,  were  made  in  the  same  manner.  What 
self-respect  can  workmen  have,  who  are  engaged  in  such  fabrica* 
cations  ?  But  here,  every  shoe  is  an  honor  to  its  maker,  and  every 
workman  takes  pride  in  his  work. 

As  I  stood  beside  one  of  these  fine  spirited  and  intelligent 
mechanics,  in  the  group  of  wheel-rights,  I  said : 

"  Well,  Mr.  Frank,  is  this  life  altogether  to  your  liking  ?  " 

"There  may  come  a  better,"  he  said,  "in  this  world  or  the 
next ;  but  this  will  do  for  the  present." 

"  But  have  you  no  want  unsatisfied  ?" 

"  None  out  of  myself.  I  wish  to  know  more,  and  be  more ;  but 
that  will  come.  I  am  growing  all  the  time.  I  learn  something 
new,  and  feel  myself  somewhat  better,  every  day.  We  must  wait 
for  growth." 

"  Very  true.  Bu^  '3  there  no  feeling  of  a  desire  for  indepen- 
dence?" 

"  How  of  independence  ?  I  have  all  I  want.  Food,  clothing, 
shelter,  society,  study,  amusement,  friendship,  love  ;  and  all  in  the 
most  absolute  freedom.  What  can  I  have  or  wish  more?  I  can 
choose  my  own  work,  and  my  own  time  for  working.  I  can  be 
alone,  or  find  congenial  society.  I  can  go  or  stay  at  pleasure. 
Perhaps  you  think  we  are  under  some  constraint.  I  can  put  on 
ray  coat,  go  strait  to  Mr.  Manlius  or  Vincent,  draw  for  a  thousand 
dollars,  in  New  York  or  New  Orleans,  and  go  where  I  please.  I 
think,  sometimes  I  will  take  a  trip  to  Paris,  but  I  can  never  make 
up  my  mind  to  leave  those  I  love  here,  long  enough  for  the  voyage. 
I  go  to  New  Orleans- with  the  Fairy  sometimes,  for  a  taste,  of  civi- 


ESPERAXZA.  185 

lized  dissipation;  but  a  taste  is  enough.     After  our  life  here,  it 
seems  very  flat  and  insipid." 

"And  you  are  satisfied  on  the  score  of  wages  and  profits?" 
"Bah!  wages  and  profits.  I  am  a  master  workman,  and  have 
no  wages,  I  make  as  much  as  I  choose.  As  to  profits,  we  get 
good  prices  for  every  thing,  and  I  have  my  full  share.  here  is 
not  a  man,  woman  or  child  here,  who  does  not  have  more  than  they 
could  get  elsewhere,  unless  they  went  to  robbing.  The  satisfac- 
tion of  being  honest,  and  plundering  nobody,  is  something." 

Frank  was  working  away  all  this  time  on  a  wheel,  which  excited 
my  special  admiration,  it  was  so  light  and  strong  and  beautiful. 
There  was  not  a  shaving  of  timber  to  spare  in  any  part,  and  it  was 
wonderful  to  see  how  the  carving  away  of  every  superfluous  por- 
tion had  left  the  wheel  of  the  most  elegant  form  possible.  The 
outer  rim  of  the  wheel  was  of  one  piece  of  oak,  bent  to  a  circle  by 
steaming  and  machinery ;  a  great  improvement  on  the  felloes.  The 
spokes  were  light  and  tough  as  whalebone,  and  the  hub  light  and 
shapely  as  an  Etruscan  vase.  The  entire  carriages,  buggies,  etc, 
turned  out  here,  are  of  the  same  perfection,  and  finished,  painted 
and  trimmed  so  tastefully  as  to  bring  the  best  prices.  A  group  of 
more  or  less  skilled  workmen  begin  on  a  carriage  of  a  certain  con- 
struction, of  which  they  have  made  or  procured  plans  and  drawings; 
and  they  work  on  with  great  zeal  and  industry,  until  it  is  complet- 
ted,  perhaps  in  competition  with  another  group,  trying  to  excel 
each  other.  In  this  contest  they  often  work  greatly  beyond  the 
ordinary  hours  of  labor  ;  but  this  time  is  carefully  credited  in  their 
iadividual  accounts.  But  the  profit,  or  gain,  so  far  as  I  can  perceive, 
is  never  the  motive  to  this  exertion.  It  is  the  pride  and  happi- 
ness of  achievement.  It  is  the  spontaneous  activity  of  the  spirit, 
finding  manifestation  in  works  of  use  and  beauty. 

I  am  satisfied  on  the  score  of  economies.  Production  is  ample  ; 
distribution  is  equitable  ;  kindness  and  generosity  tend  constantly 
to  equilibriums  ;  labor  is  from  attraction,  and  all  are  free  and  hap- 
py. There  is  no  repugnance  to  labor  ;  no  wearying  monotony  ; 
no  loneliness  of  spirit ;  no  corroding  cares  for  the  future.  No  man 
is  weighed  down  with  the  care  of  a  family — feeble  wife  and  help- 
16 


186  EsPERANZA. 

less  children,  whom  his  illness  or  death  may  plunge  into  destitution 
Esperanza  is  an  escape  from  all  the  worst  evils  of  civilization,  and 
this  is  much.  It  is  a  realization  of  some  of  our  highest  capabil- 
ities for  improvement  and  happiness,  and  this  is  more. 

Viva  Esperanza  ! 

The  spirit  of  Justice  reigns  in  this  society,  as  the  basis  of  its 
economies,  but  over  this  is  the  spirit  of  Lov«,  which  renders  a 
resort  to  justice  unnecessary.  If  the  love  prompts  to  too  lavish  a 
generosity,  to  an  excess  of  devotion,  justice,  holding  the  scales  of 
an  exact  equilibrium,  restores  the  balance  between  the  rights  of 
the  individual,  and  the  demands  of  the  social  body,  and  allows 
neither  to  encroach  upon  the  province  of  the  other.  The  reaction 
from  the  personal  selfishness  of  civilization  is  to  the  other  extreme 
of  a  single  communism  ;  and  this  is  the  first  form  of  social  organiza- 
tions. But  men  cannot  dwell  in  extremes ;  and  the  individual  soon 
asserts  his  rights,  and  the  old  selfish  spirit  returns  in  full  and  de- 
structive force.  The  golden  mean  is  the  exact  balance  of  the 
individual  and  general  good ;  each  tending  continually  to  perfect 
the  other,  as  the}'  must  where  they  are  in  entire  harmony. 

Thus  the  great  problem  of  the  social  life  is  solved  for  me.  The 
centripetal  balances  the  centrifugal.  The  earths  revolve  in  their 
orbits,  by  these  combined  forces  of  attractions  and  repulsions,  in  a 
sublime  equipoise,  and  a  glorious  harmony. 

Again,  Viva  £Jsp?ra7iza  / 


XII. 

THE    CHILDREN. 

My  Sweet  Clara  : — Some  years  ago,  I  visited  a  Shaker  village. 
As  I  look  back  to  the  strange  scene  their  life  presented  to  me,  and 
compare  it  with  the  rich  and  beautiful  life  around  me  here,  the 
Shaker  society  seems  a  dim,  faint  outline,  with  no  light  and  shade, 
no  effect,  or  warmth  of  coloring,  a  pale,  cold  skeleton. 

I  remember  how  the  uncouth  and  ugly  costumes  of  men  and 
women,  contrived  to  make  them  look  as  hedious  as  possible  ;  their 
thin  forms  and  pale  faces,  coming  from  a  spiritual,  not  a  physical 
starvation ;  their  soft  "yea"  and  "nay,"  and  simple,  child-like 
lano-uaofe,  affected  me.  And  what  a  contrast  is  here  !  There  were 
fertile  fields,  abundant  crops,  noble  barns  and  granaries,  substantial 
houses,  and  plenty  and  peace.  But  all  was  designed  for  the  most 
simplistic,  naked,  and  homely  use,  without  beauty  or  ornament. 
No  pictures,  no  flowers,  no  music,  no  beauty,  except  that  which  can- 
not be  shut  out.  They  cannot  shut  out  the  glory  of  the  heavens ;  nor 
the  green  woods  or  fields.  They  only  mar  and  make  ugly  all  they 
can.  No  flowers  bloom  in  their  gardens,  or  adorn  their  walks.  You 
see  no  where  ,roses  and  honey •  suckles,  and  morning-glories,  nor 
even  the  modest  heliotrope,  and  mignonnette.  It  was  enough  to 
make  one's  heart  ache  to  see  a  whole  community  striving  to  shut 
out  the  beauty  of  God,  and  crucify  the  faculties  of  enjoyment  he 
has  given  us  ;  shutting  out  also,  and  crucifying,  the  deeper  cor- 
responding beauties  and  fragrances  of  the  affections. 

But  here,  0  Clara,  while  the  necessities  and  uses  of  life  underlie 
all,  and  have  their  true  value  recognized,  beauty  also  adorns  every 
thing.     A   dead  tree   is  either  cut  away,   or  covered   with  some 


188  EsPEBANZA. 

climbing  plant.  Flowers  bloom  all  around  ixs,  and  beauty  and  fra- 
grance ravish  the  senses  with  delight.  Carvings  and  ornaments, 
Btatues  and  pictures  embellish  and  adorn  every  appropriate  situation. 
The  costumes  of  both  sexes  combine  the  highest  decrees  of  use 
and  beauty.  The  working  clothes,  even  of  the  strongest  and 
coarsest  materials,  are  perfect  in  form  and  fitness :  while  the  varied 
dresses  of  festal  occasions  are  beautiful,  separately,  and  of  indes- 
cribable eflfect  in  the  tout  ensemble. 

I  have  felt  my  esthetic  life  expanded  and  satisfied  here,  as  it 
never  has  been  before.  Beauty  is  in  the  thought  and  life,  and  in  all 
its  manifestations.  The  forms  and  movements  of  men  and  women 
seem  moulded  into  grace  by  all  the  graceful  infliuences  around 
them.  The  carriage  is  free,  active,  and  of  an  easy  dignity,  inex- 
pressibly charming.  There  is  a  fine  poetical  gesticulation  united 
to  the  pure  and  musical  modulations  of  their  speech.  There  is 
not  an  awkward,  sheepish,  bashful  or  constrained  person  here. 

And  yet  there  is  no  sameness  or  mannerism,  but  a  wonderful 
variety  of  individual  development  and  manifestation.  Neither  in 
mannernor  speech,  more  than  in  personal  appearance  and  adornment, 
are  any  two  alike ;  so  that  there  is  the  most  interesting  variety ;  but 
each  one  is  free  to  work  out  his  own  distinct  individuality.  One 
might  have  supposed  that  a  noble  and  beautiful  woman  like  Melodia, 
so  admired  and  beloved  by  all,  would  have  found  many  imitators. 
Not  so.  There  is  but  one  Melodia.  No  one  imitates  or  copie 
another,  but  each  one  strives  to  develop  his  own  best  life. 

I  devoted  yesterday  to  an  examination  of  the  education  of  this 
society ;  that,  at  least,  was  my  plan ;  but  my  account  of  it  will 
scarcely  equal  your  expectations. 

"Our  whole  life  is  a  school,"  said  Vincent,  "and  all  our  labors 
and  pleasures  are  educational.  We  pay  less  regard  to  the  accu- 
mulation of  the  facts  of  knowledges  than  you  may  think.  To  be, 
is  more  than  to  know ;  and  when  the  mind  is  free  and  active,  it 
seizes  upon  the  mental  food  it  requires.  There  is  no  need  of 
systematic  cramming,  according  to  the  civilized  system.  Our 
children  are  not  educated  to  prepare  them  for  life ;  it  is  the  life 
itself  which  educates. 


ESPERANZA.  189 

"For  ten  years,  our  members,  who  were  bred  in  civilization, 
liave  had  more  trouble  to  rid  themselves  of  error,  than  to  acquire 
truth.  Free  the  human  mind  of  the  errors  which  cramp  and  fetter 
it,  clear  away  the  obstructions  from  the  avenues  of  knowledge,  and 
truth  will  flow  in  like  the  light,  from  every  portion  of  the  universe. 
Science,  in  the  human  mind,  is  but  the  picture  of  the  universe  ; 
and  the  universe  is  the  expression  or  manifestation  of  the  wisdom, 
power,  and  love,  of  the  sublime  Intelligence  which  pervades  its 
infinity,  and  which  men,  in  their  feeble  conception,  call  God." 

We  walked  together  to  the  Hall  of  Science,  of  which  I  have 
written.  It  was  occupied,  just  then,  by  a  company  of  children  of 
from  five  to  fifteen  years,  one  of  the  oldest  of  Avhom  was  giving  a 
lecture  on  geology,  illustrating  it  by  the  paintings  on  the  wall. 
The  young  professor,  who  had  evidently  read  up  carefully  for  the 
occasion,  was  listened  to  with  interest,  and  when  he  was  particularly 
eloquent,  was  well  applauded.  But  if  he  fell  into  any  error,  or 
supposed  error,  he  was  interrupted  politely,  and,  as  Vincent  waa 
present,  he  was  appealed  to.  He  gravely  and  courteously  explained 
the  difficulty,  and  the  lecture  proceeded. 

We  passed  on  into  another  room  where  a  class  of  different  ages 
was  being  exercised  in  the  elements  of  vocal  music.  We  found 
another  group  arranging  a  cabinet  of  botany,  from  specimens 
which  they  had  collected  and  classified.  Other  students,  in  the 
long  afternoons,  gathered  in  the  library,  and  the  little  conversation 
rooms  adjoining,  and  pursued  favorite  branches  of  study  or  inves- 
tigation. There  are  hours  also  when  the  most  interior  subjects  are 
discussed,  and  when  our  philosophers  and  their  disciples  hold 
converse  in  the  groves  of  a  new  Academa. 

"Every  one  follows  out  his  attraction  in  these  studies,"  said 
Vincent ;  "  but  the  real  school  is  the  life  of  industry,  art,  and 
social  enjoyment.  The  best  way  is  to  give  conditions  of  growth, 
and  then  allow  the  whole  being  to  expand  harmoniously  and 
beautifully.  We  endeavor  to  do  nothing  whicli  will  cause  an 
expansion  of  one  part  of  the  being  at  the  expense  of  another  part. 
We  aim  at  integral  development,  or  the  development  and  perfection 
of  the  whole  man,     And  vfQ,  who  have  so  lately  progressed  out  of 


190  EiPERANZA. 


civilized  imperfection  and  discord — we  strive  not  to  perpetuate  our 
incompleteness  and  imperfections,  by  having  them  repeated  in 
the  education  of  the  young.  Our  great  law  is  ffive  fromi  cdl  facul- 
ties to  all  faculties.  This  is  the  law  of  spiritual  and  passional 
equilibrium,  and  the  condition  and  result  of  integral  development. 

"  But,  if  you  wish  to  get  a  true  idea  of  that  in  our  life  which 
corresponds  to  what  you  call  education,  you  should  go  a  little 
farther  back,  and  begin,  if  possible,  at  the  beginning." 

He  turned  and  ascended  a  wide  stair-case,  and  I  followed  him  to 
a  large,  airy  and  "Tjeautiful  apartment,  Avhich  proved  to  be  the 
nursery  of  the  Home.  We  were  welcomed  by  Harmonia.  "You 
find  me  among  my  little  ones,"  she  said,  with  a  smile  of  maternal 
tenderness.  In  this  room  were  all  the  babies,  of  three  years  old 
and  under,  attended  by  a  little  group  of  mothers  and  nurses. 
There  were  grand-motherly  women,  so  fond  of  children,  as  to  find 
here  their  greatest  happiness  ;  mothers,  who  either  took  their  turns 
in  the  general  care  of  the  nurseries,  or  came  to  give  the  infants 
their  natural  food  ;  and  young  girls,  whom  a  strong  instinct  led  to 
volunteer  in  these  pleasing  cares.  It  was  very  sure  that  they  all, 
like  Harmonia,  loved  babies.  > 

And  such  beautiful  children  !  So  rosy,  fat  and  happy.  They 
laughed,  and  crowed,  and  jumped,  and  rolled  about,  with  a  health- 
ful activity  and  a  perpetual  joy  ;  or  slept  the  sweet  sleep  of 
a  pure  infancy. 

The  room  is  wonderfully  adapted  to  its  uses.  It  is  large,  well 
lighted,  and  perfectly  ventilated.  The  soft  breezes  flow  through  it; 
fine  nettings  shut  out  all  insect  annoyances ;  the  temperature  is 
easily  regulated  ;  and  the  capacious  baths,  where  the  children  bathe, 
and  even  swim,  morning  .and  evening,  and  oftener  if  needed,  are  at 
a  comfortable  temperature. 

The  ceiling  is  of  a  soft  blue,  like  the  heavens ;  the  walls  are  a 
lovely,  fairy  like  landscape  painting.  A  musical  clock  plays  pretty 
airs  every  quarter  of  an  hour  through  the  day.  There  is  a  pro- 
fusion of  toys  and  little  furniture,  and  a  world  in  miniature.  The 
only  punishment  is  to  be  banished  from  this  infantile  paradise. 

"  Here,"  said  Vincent,  "we  receive  the  tender  plants  of  human- 


EsPEEANZA.  I  9 1 

ity,  and  give  them,  from  the  beginning,  the  conditions  of  a  healthy 
and  harmonic  growth.  Here  every  mother  can  nurse  her  child, 
and  take  just  as  much  care  of  it  as  she  pleases  ;  without  its  ever 
being  a  burthen  to  her ;  since,  if  she  is  wanting  in  attraction  for 
these   natural  offices,  there  are  others  happy  to  supply  her  place." 

"But  can  others  supply  the  love  of  a  mother?"  I  asked. 

"  It  is  not  needful.  Since  no  woman,  in  our  life  of  freedom,  ever 
has  a  child  forced  upon  her,  or  against  her  wishes ;  since  the  love 
of  offspring  and  the  desire  for  offspring — the  strong  instinct  of 
maternity — is  the  only  motive  and  cause  in  action,  it  may  be  pre- 
sumed that  every  mother  must  love  the  child  of  her  fondest  hopes 
and  wishes.  But  it  is  true  that  all  women,  even  with  the  same 
love  for  their  children,  are  not  equally  adapted  to  the  performance 
of  maternal  duties.  Would  you  wish  Melodia,  for  example,  to  leave 
her  art  life,  and  her  sphere  in  our  society,  and  devote  all  her  time 
and  thought  to  the  care  of  an  infant,  that  three-fourths  of  the  time 
would  be  just  as  well  cared  for  by  those  who  would  attend  it  with 
a  great  love  and  devotion  ?  Our  children  are  never  left,  as  so  often 
happens  in  civilization,  to  indifference  and  hate.  They  are  never 
stupified  into  quietness  by  opium,  or  lulled  into  the  insensibility  of 
intoxication  by  beer  or  whisky.  Our  mothers  have  not  the  fault  of 
not  loving  their  children.  It  is  only  w'hen  children  are  forced 
upon  women,  against  their  wishes,  or  are  born  out  of  a  low  plane 
of  selfishness  and  sensuality,  that  there  is  lack  of  love.  The 
danger  with  us  is  in  their  being  too  much  confined  to  them  for  the 
good  of  either.  Variety  of  life,  exercise  and  repose,  are  favorable 
to  the  health  of  the  nursing  mother,  and  of  consequence  are  for 
the  good  of  the  infant." 

On  one  side  of  this  hall  is  adopted  that  pretty  invention  of 
Fourier's,  for  the  young  infants — the  elastic  net  work,  with  a  cloth 
covering,  sinking  in  the  interstices,  in  which  the  babies,  with  but 
little  clothing,  play  with  each  other,  or  roll  and  tumble  about 
without  the  least  risk  of  injury.  The  soft  music,  the  tinkling 
fountain,  the  bland  airs,  the  lovely  aspect  of  the  beautiful  things 
that  make  this  infant  heaven,  all  contribute  to  harmony  of  being. 
From  this  room,  often  noisy  with  sports  and  childish,  romping  glee. 


192  EsPERANZA. 

we  passed  through  a  passage  to  another  room,  where  silence  reigns 
over  the  repose  of  sleeping  innocence.  I  could  have  stayed  here 
an  hour  looking  at  these  cherub  forms.  Happy  children,  I  thought, 
and  happy  mothers !  Happy  society,  where  every  child  has  the 
beautiful  care  and  conditions  of  health  and  enjoyment,  which  our 
civihzalion  gives  but  imperfectly  to  the  most  fortunate,  and  which 
millions  never  enjoy.  For  this  loveful  care,  this  nursing  from  at- 
taction  and  enthusiasm,  is  what  no  wealth  or  power  can  command. 

Vincent  went  to  his  work;  and  Esperanza  has  few  members  who 
are  more  industrious.  I  was  left  with  Harmonia,  whose  love  of  chil- 
dren is  a  strong  passion.  In  the  world,  she  could  never  pass  a  babe 
without  wishing  to  take  it  in  her  arms ;  and  many  a  sick  child  of 
an  ignorant  mother  has  she  taken  in  her  arms  and  blest,  by  her 
knowh'dge  of  disease,  and  skill  in  the  healing  art. 

"  Are  they  not  all  beautiful?"  she  said,  as  we  sat  and  looked  at 
a  group  of  young  children. 

"  When  I  think  of  the  poor,  sickly,  miserable  infants  of  the 
world,  half  dying  before  they  are  five  years  old,  and  then  at  these 
healthy  and  happy  darlings  of  our  home,  I  can  hardly  wait  for  the 
world  to  grow.  It  moves  so  slowly  !  Every  year  millions  of  little 
ones,  born  only  to  breathe  out  a  few  days  and  months  of  suffering, 
and  then  fill  the  little  graves  that  are  scattered  over  the  face  of 
civilization  !  Then  the  agony  of  ignorant  parents  is  not  lost  to  me. 
I  have  seen  and  felt  it  all.  But  the  future  has  hope.  If  God  can 
wait,  I  must  wait  also.  One  of  the  attributes  of  Divinity  seems 
a  sublime  patience  ;  but  I  do  not  believe  that  even  an  Infinite  God 
can  endure  an  eternity  of  evil  and  misery  !" 

"  Do  you  tell  me,"  I  asked,  "that  these  little  ones  are  not  liable 
to  the  diseases  of  infancy  ?" 

"A  few  have  them  in  a  very  slight  degree;  for  we  are  not  yet 
purified  from  the  laid-up  causes  of  these  evils.  But  their  sickness  is 
light;  it  is  for  purification ;  and  it  is  not  into  death.  If  a  child 
should  die  among  us,  it  would  be  because  we  liad  committed  a 
great  sin,  and  deserved  a  great  ealamity." 

"  Is  it  possible  that  you  believe  that  the  Almighty  punishes  our 


EsPERANZA.  1 93 

misdeeds  by  such  a  vengeance  as  killing  somebody's  child?"  I 
asked,  with  uadisguised  astonishment. 

"You  mistake  me,  my  friend,"  said  Harmonia.  "The  sin  must 
have  been  in  the  begetting  of  such  a  child.  The  child  who  dies 
of  any  disease  of  infancy,  had  no  right  to  be  born.  The  crime  is 
that  of  generation,  or  gestation,  or  succeeding  conditions.  The 
healthily  generated,  born  and  nurtured  child  of  healthy  and  har- 
monious parents,  never  dies  of  croup,  or  scarlatina,  or  cholera  in- 
fantum.    There  are  no  eflfects  without  adequate  causes. 

"  Supernal  wisdom  has  revealed  to  us  the  laws  of  a  wise  and 
healthful  generation  ;  and  those  laws  we  must  obey.  Here  is  our 
reward. 

"It  has  been  revealed,  and  is  moreover  scientifically  demonstra- 
ble, as  Vincent  will  explain  to  you,  if  you  desire  it,  that  each  child, 
born  into  the  earth-life,  has  tlie  sum  total  of  parental  possibilities, 
when  generative  conditions  and  gestative  are  equal." 

"  You  mean  that  when  the  father  and  mother,  in  their  functional 
capabilities  are  balanced,  or  harmonious,  that  the  child  will  be  su- 
perior to  either,  and  equal  to  both  ?  " 

"Yes;  such  is  the  law  of  progressive  generation,  as  revealed  to 
us  from  the  angel  life.  And  the  superiority  of  children  to  their 
parents,  and  of  consequence,  the  progress  of  the  race,  is  determin- 
ed by  the  intensity,  and  integrality,  or  completeness  of  love  unities, 
or  harmonization  in  the  parents." 

"  Then  the  finer  the  development,  and  the  greater  the  love  of 
parents,  the  better  will  be  their  children  ?  " 

"  Doubtless  :  but  you  will  not  lose  sight  of  the  principle,  that 
this  development,  in  each,  must  be  whole,  complete,  integral ;  from 
inmost  to  outmost,  from  all  physical  powers  and  functions,  to  the 
highest  faculties  of  the  mind  and  spirit.  When  two  persons,  so 
developed,  meet  in  the  unity  of  a  pervading  love,  which  joins  them 
in  all  faculties,  then  the  generative  and  gestative  conditions  are 
equal,  and  the  child  combines  the  sum  total  of  parental  possibility." 

"  But  how  is  this  noble  and  beautiful  result  to  be  attained  ?  " 

"  It  cannot  be  in  civilization,  where  men  and  Avomen,  diseased  and 
discordant,  feel  at  liberty  to  perpetuate  all  their  discords  and  all 
17 


194  EsPERANZA. 

diseases.  It  cannot  be  -where  the  ignorant,  and  partially  developed 
come  together  from  interest,  or  caprice,  or  sensuality ;  Avhere  ma- 
ternity is  forced  upon  woman,  without  respect  to  her  condition  or 
desires  ;  and  where  opinion,  custom,  and  law  bind  men  and  women 
in  the  abhorrent  bondage  of  discordant  marriages. 

"I  have  given  you  the  law  of  progression,  and  life.  Civilization 
supplies  the  conditions  of  deterioration  and  death.  It  is  the  divine 
energy  that  resides  in  humanity,  struggling  ever  upward  to  light 
and  life,  that  has  prevented  the  utter  depravation  and  annihilation 
of  the  race." 

"And  here,"  I  said,  "  where  I  see  these  healthful  and  beauti- 
ful children  ;  how  have  you  secured  the  conditions,  which,  accord- 
ing to  this  law,  are  necessary  to  such  a  result.  ?" 

"  Our  whole  life  is  made  up  of  these  conditions.  We  perfect 
the  plant  by  culture,  and  by  choosing  the  most  perfect  seeds  of  the 
best  perfected  plants,  we  secure  its  progressive  improvement.  The 
love  of  humanity  demands  that  none  but  healthful  and  developed 
beings,  should  reproduce  themselves  in  children.  We  ■produce 
ourselves,  by  integral  culture,  before  we  venture  to  reproduce 
ourselves,  in  our  offspring." 

"Would  you  deny  the  right  of  the  parental  instinct  to  the 
diseased  and  discordant?" 

"  Wc  deny  no  right.  Nature,  herself,  forbids  that  we  inflict 
disease,  insanity,  and  all  the  miseries  of  an  incomplete  and  dis- 
cordant life  on  our  posterity.  Those  of  us  who  are  consciously 
unfitted  to  wisely  sustain  the  parental  relation,  conscientiously 
refrain  from  it.  They  do  not  the  less  love  and  care  for  the  robust 
and  beautiful  children  of  those  Avho  follow  their  most  divine 
attraction,  in  a  wise  exercise  of  their  portion  of  the  creative  energy. 
"  There  is  no  compulsory  restraint  on  any,  but  the  whole  intelli- 
gence, and  the  whole  sentiment  of  our  united  body,  is  in  favor  of 
our  giving  to  this  life  none  but  those  who  are  fitted  for  its  enjoy- 
ment. In  the  outside  world  all  this  is  different.  The  laws  and 
customs  of  society  are  in  direct  opposition  to  the  teachings  of 
science,  and  the  dictates  of  common  sense.  Disease,  deformity, 
insanity,  and  every  form  of  mental  and  physical  idiosyncrasy,  are 


ESPERANZA.  195 

reproduced  remorselessly  and  continually.  Children  are  born  in 
multitudes,  one-half  to  populate  grave-yards,  and  a  large  portion 
of  the  other  half  to  insanities,  idiocy,  crime  or  poverty,  disease 
and  misery.  It  is  this  terrible  civilization  which  Fourier  has 
called  a  social  hell,  with  its  miseries  unutterable ;  but  not,  thank 
God,  unending." 

"And  here?" 

"  Here,  even  now,  after  a  few  years  of  progress,  and  the  approx- 
imation to  a  harmonic  life,  you  see  how  the  spirit  of  that  life 
incarnates  itself  in  these  rosy  cherubs.  The  first  law  of  this 
progression,  given  us  from  the  higher  spheres,  was,  that  in  the 
relations  of  the  sexes  :  material  union  is  to  he  had  only  token  the 
xoisdom  of  the  harmony  demands  a  child.  All  have  come  into  this 
haraiony  through  the  gate  of  consecration  to  a  pure  life — to  an 
entire  chastity,  which  defined  itself  first  as  continence,  and  later  as 
an  equilibrium  of  the  faculties,  in  which  the  physical  senses  are 
held  under  the  control  of  wisdom  and  conscience,  or  the  highest 
sense  of  right,  in  the  relation  of  each  individual  to  the  harmonized 
society  to  which  he  belongs." 

"  This  restraint  and  governance  of  the  sensual  nature,  by  an 
almost  monastic  discipline  ;  is  this  consistent  with  the  freedom 
you  demand — the  freedom  of  the  affections,  as  well  as  of  thouo-ht 
and  belief?" 

I  did  not  need  to  ask  this  question ;  I  could  have  answered  it 
myself,  but  not  so  well  as  Harmonia. 

"Freedom,"  she  said,  "is  the  first  condition  of  our  life.  We 
must  be  free,  to  do  right.  The  woman,  held  in  marriage  bonds, 
has  no  freedom.  It  may  be  abhorrent  to  her  to  be  a  mother. 
Sense  and  soul  revolt;  but  she  has  no  power  to  refuse.  Her  life 
is  wasted,  and  she  is  made  the  involuntary  and  unwilling  mother 
of  a  diseased  and  discordant  oflfspring.  The  first  condition  and 
necessity  of  a  true  life,  is,  therefore,  freedom :  but  being  free,  we 
can  order  our  life  according  to  our  own  highest  freedom  and  sense 
of  right.  No  one  can  come  to  us,  but  in  freedom  ;  no  one  can 
live  our  life  truly,  in  whom  it  is  not  a  free,  spontaneous  expression 
of   the   highest  attractions.     Fourier  saw  that  libri'  amour-    tbp 


196  .  ESPERAKZA. 

'  Free  Love  '  which  you  have  heard  stigmatized  by  sensualists — 
must  be  of  necessity,  the  supreme  law  of  a  harmonic  life.  Here, 
all  love  is  free,  and  in  its  freedom,  seeks  the  highest  purity,  and 
noblest  expressions  and  results.  All  our  children  are  '  love  chil- 
dren,' and  the  children  of  the  most  integral  and  intense  unities  of 
the  passion.  And  the  child,  born  of  the  mutual  love  of  two 
developed  and  harmonized  parents,  who  are  free  to  follow  their 
highest  attractions  and  divinest  impulses,  must  most  surely  and 
inevitably  combine  the  same  parental  possibilities.  Such  are  the 
children  of  harmony,  and  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  Heaven!  " 

Harmonia  rose,  gave  me  her  hand,  which  I  reverently  kissed,  and 
we  parted ;  she  to  some  work  of  love,  I  to  reflect  on  what  she  had 
said  to  me. 

This  thought,  and  this  realization  of  the  freedom  of  woman, 
opens  to  me  as  a  new  dispensation.  In  savagism,  woman  is  a 
drudging  slave.  In  barbarism,  a  slave  of  appetite  and  luznry.  In 
civilization,  still  a  slave,  of  fashion,  custom,  law,  and  the  marriage 
institution,  in  which  her  most  sacred  life  is  crucified,  and  which  is 
to  her,  so  often,  a  hopeless  bondage,  full  of  constraint,  deprivation, 
and  often  outrage.  I  have  seeaall  this.  Now  I  see  woman  free  ; 
and  the  results  of  her  freedom,  in  a  purity  of  life,  a  harmony  of 
interests,  and  a  happiness,  which  I  had  scarcely  imagined  as  an 
earthly  possibility.  And  I  now  see  that  no  woman  can  be  truly 
noble,  truly  virtuous,  only  as  she  is  truly  free.  It  is  only  in  perfect 
freedom  that  every  woman  can  exercise  her  highest  of  all  rights — 
that  of  choosing  the  father  of  her  child.  Vincent  and  Harmonia 
began  their  work  of  human  harmonization,  at  this  point.  They 
said  with  Swedenborg,  "  there  is  no  regeneration  but  in  freedom." 
They  taught  that  freedom  was  the  first  and  absolute  condition  of  a 
true  life,  and  that  no  man  or  woman  could  begin  even  to  live 
truly,  until  they  were  free  to  do  so. 

They  demanded,  for  themselves  and  for  all,  "absolute  self-own- 
ership, and  the  free  disposal  of  one's  time,  labor,  sympathies  and 
affections."  It  was  a  new  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  a  new 
assertion  of  the  Rights  of  Man,  in  which  Liberty  took  on  a  broader 
and  deeper  significance  ;  for  they  asked  nothing  less  than  "  Liberty, 


ESPERANZA.  197 

of  the  person  from  all  ownership,  bondage,  restraint,  oi*  iniposed 
burthen ;  from  all  fraud  or  force  ;  all  despotisms  of  custom,  law, 
or  institutions ;  of  the  mind,  from  all  arbitrary  impositions  of 
creeds,  opinions,  laws,  or  forms  of  social  or  religious  dogmatism ; 
of  the  heart,  from  the  bondage  that  galls  and  wears,  that  paralyzes 
or  breaks.  A  holy  freedom  to  follow  the  dictates  of  nature,  in  her 
most  sacred  instincts.  A  sanctuary  of  love  which  no  despotism 
can  violate,  and  no  power  profane.  The  free  Pursuit  of  Happiness, 
in  the  unconstrained  exercise  of  all  rights ;  in  the  following  of  all 
attractions  ;  in  the  respect  for  all  repulsions ;  in  the  full  freedom 
of  a  true  and  natural  life,  which  does  not,  in  any  way,  limit  the 
equal  freedom,  or  encroach  upon  the  equal  rights,  or  wrongfully 
destroy  the  happiness  of  any  other  being." 

"True  Freedom"  they  define  as  "  the  right  to  do  right ;"  and 
"there  can  be,"  they  said,  "no  right  to  do  a  wrong." 

These  are  the  principles  upon  which  this  social  organization  is 
formed,  and  here  they  have  found  vitality,  germination,  growth, 
the  blossoming  of  a  blissful,  loving  life,  and  the  fruition  of  a  har- 
monic society,  perpetuating  itself  in  progressive  generations. 

Blessed  children  of  Harmony  !  I  exclaimed,  as  I  thought  of 
these  happy  babes,  so  embosomed  in  loving  cares,  and  with  the 
assurance  of  a  life  of  peace,  freedom  and  happiness,  fitting  portal 
to  an  immortal  existence  ! 

But  as  I  walked  alone,  the  prejudices  of  education  and  custom 
threw  their  shadows  over  my  thoughts.  That  question,  which 
expresses  so  many  petty  tyrannies,  "  What  will  the  world  say?" 
importuned  for  its  cowardly  answer.  I  even  feared  that  you  would 
be  shocked — you,  with  your  true,  pure,  womanly  nature,  because 
these  children  were  born  under  the  laws  of  heaven,  instead  of  the 
institutions  of  civilization.  As  I  walked  moodily,  wondering  at 
the  unreasonableness  of  civilizees  in  general,  and  at  the  strength 
of  my  own  prejudices,  the  bright  angel  who  had  guided  me  to  this 
paradise,  met  me,  smiling  as  if  she  knew  the  source  of  my  dis- 
quietude. 

"  He  who  contemplates  a  happy  infancy,"  she  said,  "  should  look 
more  joyfully  at  the  present  and  the  future.    Can  a  clouded  brow 


198.  ESPERANZA. 

come  from  the  cheerful  nursery  of  Esperanza?  Or  do  you  mourn 
that  all  children  are  not  as  blest  as  these  ?" 

There  was  irony  in  the  question,  but  it  was  suggestive,  too. 

"I  have  been  measuring,"  I  replied,  "  the  power  of  those  pre- 
judices, which  enchain  the  world,  and  keep  its  people  in  their 
miserable  systems." 

"  Ah  !  that  is  better ;  and  you  found  that  measure  in  yourself?  " 

"It  is  true.     The  old  shadows  darken  me  sometimes." 

"  Well  that  they  are  but  shadows.  Open  your  mind  to  the  light, 
and  the  shadows  will  disappear.  Does  it  trouble  you  that  our 
beautiful  children  are  not  the  sickly,  unwelcome  offspring  of  civ- 
ilized marriages,  born  to  die  in  their  cradles,  or  to  live  and  perpet- 
uate parental  discords  ?  " 

"No  1"  I  exclaimed  ;  a  thousand  times,  no!  Woman  must  be 
free,  or  there  cannot  be  a  true  maternity.  I  see  well  that  this  is 
the  only  guarantee  of  social  regeneration,  and  that  the  isolate 
household  and  the  marriage  of  civilization  have  never  resulted  in 
the  true  family  and  the  true  society. 

"  Pardon  me,  who  am  so  new  to  this  life,  if  I  do  not  under- 
stand all  its  relations.  I  see  these  children,  full  of  health  and 
beauty,  and  surrounded  by  a  most  loving  care  and  culture  ;  and  I 
see  the  life  to  which  they  are  happily  destined.  But  I  see  also, 
that  there  are  circumstances  connected  with  their  birth  which 
would  deeply  shock  the  prejudices  of  civilized  moralists,  and 
which  I  find  it  difficult  to  look  at  like  a  philosopher." 

"Are  you  in  trouble  about  an  imaginary  taint  of  birth,  when 
half  the  children  born  in  civilization  have  the  real  taints  of  scrof- 
ula, and  discordances  tending  to  insanity  ?  Am  I  to  tell  you  that 
the  genuine  legitimacy  is  the  result  of  obeying  the  laws  of  nature  ? 
Do  you  not  believe  in  a  higher  law  than  those  made  by  kings,  or 
priests,  or  republican  legislators  ?  You  have  seen  our  children  : 
do  you  find  them  base-born  ?  " 

"The  children  of  Esperanza,"  said  I,  "are  beautiful  as  angels. 
I  know  that  they  are  born  of  a  pure  life,  and  the  most  sacred  re- 
lations. Pardon  me,  if  the  sadness  of  a  doubt  has  come  over  me 
for  a  moment.     You,  dear  Melodia,  better  than  any,  can  tell  me 


ESPERANZA.  199 

whether  all  the  parental  and  filial  instincts  and  wants  are  satisfied 
in  this  society." 

"  Better  than  they  ever  have  been  elsewhere,  I  believe.  Every 
child  born  here  is  an  answer  to  its  mother's  prayer.  The  father 
of  every  child  is  its  mother's  most  sacred  choice.  The  children 
of  a  mutual  love,  love  both  parents,  and  are  beloved  by  them. 
They  are  loved  also  by  all  who  love  their  parents.  Xo  child  here 
can  be  an  orphan,  or  want  for  the  most  loving  care.  These  are 
conditions  of  human  progress,  and  happiness,  which  no  society 
but  ours  has  ever  provided,  and  which  can  only  be  realized  in  the 
freedom  and  harmony  of  the  Unitary  Home.  Now,  my  friend,  is 
there  a  place  on  the  earth  where  you  would  rather  have  your  child 
born  and  nurtured  than  here  ?  " 

I  did  not  need  to  answer  ;  and  as  we  turned  around  a  little 
copse,  we  came  upon  a  group  of  children,  so  joyous,  so  beautiful, 
so  loving  to  each  other,  so  beloved  by  all,  that  all  my  troubles 
vanished  like  a  morning  mist.  And  the  first  who  came  to  me, 
wilh  his  frank,  brave  greeting,  was  the  little  Vincent.  He  gave 
one  hand  to  Melodia  and  the  other  to  me,  and  told  us  the  triumphs 
of  his  morning's  work,  and  his  evening's  play. 

*' Master  Vincent,"  said  I,  "  who,  of  all  these  people,  do  you 
love  the  best?" 

<'Why,  the  same  one  that  you  do  ;"  said  the  little  rogue,  look- 
ing up  at  Melodia. 

"  And  who  next  ?  " 

"Next,  I  love  best  the  one  she  loves  best.  Then  I  love  all  who 
love  them  both ;  so  I  love  you — a  little  ;"  and  giving  Melodia  a 
kiss,  he  ran  off  to  join  his  companions  in  their  play. 

0  Clara,  mine  !  shall  not  our  children  find  their  home  and  their 
loves  in  this  beautiful  Esperanza  ? 


XIII. 

EDUCATION. 

0  MY  Clara  !  How  shall  I  unfold  to  you  the  interior  beauty 
of  this  life,  of  which  I  have  hitherto  been  able  only  to  give  you 
very  imperfect  glimpses  ?  Words — the  common  words  of  our  com- 
mon speech,  seem  so  poor— so  inadequate  to  convey  ideas  of  a  life 
which  must  come  in  time  to  have  a  language  corresponding  to  its 
dignity  and  beauty,  its  purity  and  bliss. 

1  have  endeavored  to  convey  to  you  an  idea  of  the  education 
here,  which  draws  out  every  faculty  of  body  and  soul.  It  is  a 
training  which  began  years  back,  with  an  earnest  purification  and 
consecration  of  heart  and  life  to  this  work.  It  was  not  a  life  of 
penance  and  mortification,  but  of  resolute,  high-souled  endeavor 
to  develop  all  that  is  manly  in  man,  and  all  that  is  womanly  in 
woman.  It  began  with  health,  or  the  purifying  and  energizing  of 
the  physical  system.  All  moral  faults  were  at  the  s^me  time  sys- 
tematically eradicated ;  and  the  whole  life  reduced  to  order  and 
harmony.  The  adopted  motto  of  the  society  in  its  formative  stage 
was    "  Cease  to  do  evil ;  Learn  to  do  well." 

It  was  an  eclectic  school  of  morals  and  philosophy  ;  a  school  of 
the  broadest  tolerance  and  the  most  comprehensive  charity.  They 
looked  upon  all  systems  of  religion  and  govermeut  as  embodying 
some  idea  of  humanity,  and  as  having  in  it  the  germs  of  goodness. 
Hence  they  accept  the  goods  of  all  systems.  Brahmism,  Boodhism, 
Judaism,  Classic  Mythologies,  Christianity,  Islamism,  all  creeds 
and  institutions,  were  brought  to  the  test  of  an  all-comprehending 
humanitary  philosophy,  and  the  pure  gold  separated  from  the 
Iross.     Whatever  was  true,  good,  beautiful  of  all  these  outgrowths 

200 


ESPERANZA.  20 1 

and  expressions  of  the  religious  sentiment  or  esthetic  hfe  of  man, 
this  society  has  conserved  ;  and  thus  the  whole  progress  of  hu- 
manity in  all  its  stages  has  been  a  preparation  for  this  life. 

The  education  here,  and  the  life  which  educates  all  who  are  in 
and  of  it,  is  integral  or  harmonic.  Never  is  it  the  development  of 
a  single  faculty,  or  even  of  a  few.  In  this  large  and  varied  life  all 
talents,  all  powers,  all  faculties  are  brought  into  play.  The 
senses,  and  perceptive  faculties,  the  sentiments,  and  the  instincts 
or  passions  are  all  held  in  balance.  It  is  not  as  in  our  society, 
where  one  man  is  a  laborer  and  nothing  else,  another  a  musician, 
another  a  linguist,  another  a  teacher.  Each  life  here,  by  its  large 
and  varied  development,  seems  to  include  many  lives,  and  the  hap- 
piness of  many  lives  is  concentrated  into  its  uses,  and  enjoyments. 

I  have  asked  of  the  discipline  found  needful  to  the  ordering  of 
this  life  from  the  crudeness  and  perversity  of  our  depraving  con- 
ditions ;  and  I  have  accepted  for  myself,  and  I  bring  to  you  this 
method  of  reduction  to  an  orderly  life.  It  is  a  work  of  systematic 
culture.  In  the  novitiate  and  preparatory  stages,  each  individual 
writes  down  from  time  to  time  the  most  prominent  faults  of  his 
character,  and  rules  of  conduct  respecting  them  ;  and  then  for  each 
fault  fixes  upon  some  suitable  penalty — self-chosen  and  self-in- 
flicted. 

Most  had  tendencies  to  over-eating,  and  the  self-inflicted  penalty 
for  every  such  transgression,  and  for  many  others,  was  to  make 
the  next  meal  on  bread  and  water  only, — at  once  a  punishment  and 
reminder  of  the  fault,  and  a  remedy  for  its  consequences. 

"  And  this  practice  of  noting  and  marking  all  transgressions," 
said  Harmonia,  who  gave  me  these  details,  "  has  had  a  wonderful 
influence  in  ordering  and  purifying  all  our  lives.  Some  had  bad 
habits  of  speech  ;  some  were  irritable,  giving  way  to  sudden  bursts 
of  anger ;  some  had  inordinate  approbativeness  ;  some  were  con- 
temptuous of  others;  all  were  more  or  less  selfish  ;  and  most  of 
tV.ose  born  and  bred  in  civilization  have  more  or  less  disordered 
alimentiveness  and  amativeness.  All  this  disorder  it  was  necessary 
to  clear  from  our  lives,  to  make  them  clean  and  pure,  even  to  the 
last  fibre. 


202  ESPERANZA. 

"  Thus  the  first  solemn  pledge  of  the  central  group,  in  its  most 
germinal  stage,  was  to  be  chaste  in  thought,  word,  and  deed.  It 
Was  the  central  purification,  from  disordered  and  diseasing  sensuality. 
And  to  all,  even  the  purest  and  noblest,  chastity  came  at  first  as 
continence.  And  now  we  all  accept,  as  the  law  of  our  life,  the 
principle  that  the  ultimation  of  sexual  love  is  justified  and  sanctified 
only  by  the  desire  of  a  wise  maternity." 

"  And  do  all  here  accept,  and  live  to  this  law  ?" 

"  All  have  accepted,  and  do  accept,  it,  as  a  finality.  No  person 
could  live  in  the  blessed  unity  of  our  life,  who  wasted  his  existence 
in  selfish,  sensual,  and  enervating  pleasures.  I  know  well  that  a 
world  sunk  in  sensuality,  can  not  comprehend  the  beauty  of  such  a 
life — but  I  may  trust  you  with  its  most  interior  laws  ;  the  more  as 
you  are  now  an  accepted  neophyte.  It  is  your  right  to  know  all 
that  our  life  requires  ;  and  it  is  your  duty  to  order  your  own  life 
according  to  your  highest  perception  of  truth,  beauty,  holiness, 
or  integrality." 

I  sought  Melodia.  She  was  in  her  own  apartment,  with  her 
writing  table  near  the  piano,  alternately  playing,  and  writing  out 
the  score  of  a  new  musical  composition.  But  she  soon  laid  aside 
her  work,  held  out  one  hand  to  me,  and  with  the  other  drew  a 
small  ottoman  to  her  feet,  for  me  to  sit  upon. 

"More  trouble?"  she  inquired  cheerfully. 

"  The  life  asks  so  much!''  I  answered. 

"  Do  you  think  the  life  asks  too  much  of  purity,  of  devotion,  of 
unity  of  being?" 

"No  :  there  cannot  be  too  much  ;  but  I  despair  of  the  world,  and 
almost  of  myself." 

"  But  not  quite.  Do  you  not  find  in  yourself  a  wish  for  all  the 
purity  of  thought  and  action  our  life  requires  ?  Do  you  not  wish 
for  that  ordering  and  harmonization  of  your  own  being  and  facul- 
ties, that  shall  fit  you  for  our  society  ?" 

"  You  must  be  sure  that  I  do.     Is  not  my  life  here  ?"  I  answered. 

"  Then  the  attraction  will  work  out  the  destiny,"  said  she  ;  "and 
you  will  be  united  to,  and  oned  with,  our  life.  Here  you  will  find 
the  satisfection  of  all  your  faculties ;  here  friendship  and  frater- 


ESPERAKZA.  203 

nity  will  unite  you  with  a  congenial  society  ;  here  your  heart  will 
repose  in  true  and  beautiful  loves  ;  here  will  open  a  sphere  for  all 
ambitions ;  here  you  will  have  respect  and  reverence  for  all  above 
you ;  you  will  influence  and  benefit  all  around  and  below  you  in 
the  scale  of  development ;  and  here  you  may  find  the  Home  your 
whole  being  asks,  and  the  conditions  of  the  truest  life  now  possible 
to  us." 

"  Ah  !  if  I  were  but  worthy  of  such  a  life  I"  I  said  with  a  pro- 
found humility. 

"  The  attraction  asserts  the  vocation.  There  is  still  a  work  to 
be  done,  in  and  for  you,  but  not  beyond  the  power  to  do,  if  you 
have  the  necessary  humility  and  devotion." 

"  I  am  sufficiently  humble,  in  the  sense  of  my  deficiencies," 
said  I.  "My education  is  imperfect ;  my  life  impulsive,  disorderly 
and  selfish ;  my  will  does  not  grasp  my  being  with  sufficient  force, 
nor  hold  it  with  sufficient  strength.     I  need  help." 

"You  have  it  and  shall  have  it,  from  within  and  without. 
Whenever  any  one  makes  an  effort  toward  goodness,  there  stands 
some  good  angel  ready  to  help.  Lift  at  the  wheel  ever  so  weakly^ 
and  Hercules  will  come  to  your  assistance.  I  too  will  help  you. 
I  will  be  your  confessor  and  director.     Can  you  trust  me  ?" 

The  joy  that  came  into  my  heart,  0,  Clara  !  how  shall  I  express 
it  to  you  ?  Her  face  beamed  in  its  pure  beauty,  like  an  angel's. 
I  could  believe  that  a  radiant  halo  surrounded  her,  such  as  was 
seen  around  the  heads  of  the  saints.  I  looked  up  to  her  pure 
loving  eyes,  as  the  catholic  looks  to  the  holy  mother,  and  felt 
peace  and  strength  come  into  my  heart, 

"  You  shall  be  my  confessor,"  I  said.  "I  can  open  all  my 
heart  and  life  to  you  ;  and  you  shall  direct,  order,  and  attune  me 
to  this  harmony,  so  that  no  discordant  tone  of  mine  shall  ever  mar 
this  divine  beauty.  I  will  perform  all  the  penances  you  inflict. 
When  I  attain  to  any  degree  of  goodness,  you  shall  reward  me." 

She  held  my  hand,  looked  into  my  face  a  few  moments,  with  a 
solemn  earnestness,  and  then  said,  in  a  low  soft  tone,  "  It  is  well. 
I  accept  the  care  of  your  life.  It  is  my  right,  and  my  duty  ;  it  is 
also  my  attraction.     Come  into  unity  with  my  being,  and  let  all 


504  ESPERANZA. 

else  come  to  you  in  that  unity.  Whatever  in  your  thought  or  life 
accords  not  with  that,  is  not  for  you,  and  must  go  out  of  your  life. 
Bravely  and  resolutely  put  aside  every  thing  that  you  feel  that  I 
would  not  approve — every  thing  you  could  not  entrust  me  with  in 
perfect  peace.  As  bravely,  and  as  resolutely  strive  to  attain  to  all 
I  would  have  you  be.  When  that  is  attained,  you  can  seek  a 
superior  direction  and  a  higher  unity." 

It  is  right,  dear  Clara,  that  I  should  tell  you  this.  I  do  it 
weakly ;  with  a  tremulous  sadness  in  my  heart,  and  with  tears  ; 
for  my  faith  is  yet  but  weak,  and  I  fear  to  hurt  you.  But  I  must 
do  the  right ;  and  if  you  are  joined  to  me  in  the  right,  then  is  our 
union  blessed  ;  but  if  the  purest  and  highest  right  I  can  see  sepa- 
rates you  from  me,  then  must  I  still  accept  the  right  and  whatever 
it  brings.  But  I  have,  even  through  this  weak  apprehensiveness, 
a  deep  and  infinite  trust  in  you  ;  and  the  feeling  that  our  love  is  a 
real  unity,  and  that  you  will  joyfully  accept  all  the  good  and  true 
that  comes  to  us. 

I  sat  there  by  Melodia,  while  she  took  the  pen,  and  wrote  down 
in  a  little  book,  the  most  promine^nt  faults  of  my  life,  such  as  they 
now  seem  to  me.  To  each  of  these  I  have  affixed  a  penance,  which 
I  will  religiously  observe ;  and  I  have  promised  every  evening  to 
write  in  this  book  an  account  of  my  progress  in  overcoming  any 
faults,  which  I  am  every  week  to  transcribe  for  her.  In  all  this,  I 
feel  a  great  peace,  and  an  inconceivable  help  and  strength  in  her 
sympathy  and  support.  No  more  do  I  think  confession  a  folly  ;  I 
no  longer  disrespect  penance ;  I  see  the  wisdom  and  use  of  these 
ordinances,  however  they  may  have  been  abused. 

"And  you,  my  gviide,"  I  said  to  the  dear  Melodia  ;  "  have  you 
too,  your  confessor  and  director?" 

"  Assuredly.  We  all  help  one  another  ;  and  bear  one  another's 
burdens.  Are  we  not  all  members,  one  of  another  ;  bound  up  in  a 
sacred  brotherhood  ;  organs  of  the  same  body  ;  notes  in  the  same 
living  harmony  ?  The  strong  must  support  the  weak  ;  the  wise 
must  govern  the  foolish  ;  the  old  instruct  the  young  ;  the  young 
give  strength  and  life  to  the  old. 

"  At  first  I  laid  the  burthen  of  my  life  upon  the  bosom  of  Har- 


ESP£RANZA.  205 

mouia.  I  loved  Vincent,  but  I  also  feared  him.  There  was  a 
reverence,  or  some  such  feeling,  for  which  I  have  no  better  name — 
a  kind  of  awe,  which  for  a  time  kept  me  from  confiding  in  him. 
It  was  not  a  want  of  trust.  I  felt  that  I  could  trust  him  utterly. 
I  lived  in  his  life  ;  yet  there  was  not  the  unity  with  him  which  I 
desired.  I  sought  it  through  her,  whose  life  was  most  intimately 
joined  to  his,  and  as  my  errors  were  dissipated  and  my  life  ordered 
and  harmonized,  I  found  myself  more  joined  to  him,  until  he  be- 
came to  me  all  that  he  is,  and  we  three  are  now  in  that  sweet 
unity  of  life  which  must  be  eternal." 

"  Do  you  not  think  all  loves  eternal  ?"  I  asked. 

"  Love  is  the  expression  or  result  of  affinity  of  being.  When 
this  affinity  is  slight,  extending  to  but  one  or  two  faculties,  the 
partial  unity  is  weak  and  transient.  Most  of  the  loves  of  the 
world  are  based  on  one  or  two  faculties.  Some  are  the  simple  sen- 
sual attraction — others  unite  to  this  vanity,  or  avarice.  These 
partial  unities  can  not  be  expected  to  endure.  A  love  can  only  be 
permanent,  when  it  is  the  expression  of  more  integral  unities. 
When  the  spiritual  attraction  corresponds  to  the  material ;  when 
there  is  an  interblending  and  harmony  of  many  faculties  and  uses  ; 
then  the  love  is  full,  satisfying  and  enduring.  Then  may  we  rest 
upon  it,  as  on  a  sure  foundation,  for  time  and  for  eternity. 

"For  the  time,  provisionally,  and  during  your  novitiate,  I  as- 
sume the  relation  to  you,  which  is  a  mutual  attraction,  and  a  mu- 
tual right.  Your  happiness  in  this  will  be  just  in  proportion  to 
the  truth  and  use  of  the  relation,  and  the  future  will  take  care  ol  it- 
self, if  we  are  but  faithful."  * 

"And  all  here,"  I  asked,  "are  they  in  this  beautiful  order  of 
mutual  help,  all  connected  by  these  golden  links  to  the  central  and 
the  internal  life  ?  " 

"All.  None  could  be  here  who  were  not  in  the  order  of  this  har- 
mony. Not  that  it  is  obligatory  or  compulsory  in  any  external 
sense,  but  because  any  erratic,  selfish,  inharmonic  action  would 
throw  the  individval  out  of  our  life,  as  surely  as  a  planet  would  be 
thrown  out  of  a  system,  if  it  lost  its  attraction  and  relation  to  the 
central  sun  and  the  other  planets.    All  belong  to  each,  and  each  is 


206  ESPBKANZA. 

joined  to  all,  even  to  the  remotest  fibre  or  atom  ;  and  as  the  whole 
body  sympathizes  with  a  diseased  organ  or  atom,  even  so  the 
whole  body  of  our  society  would  be  pained  should  one  of  its  mem- 
bers fall  into  any  evil.  And  the  whole  body  with  a  united  eflfort 
would  either  cure  the  diseased  member;  or,  failing  in  that,  the  line  of 
separation  would  be  formed,  and  the  dead  member  would  be 
sloughed  away.  So  truly  is  the  physical  body  the  type  of  the  so- 
cial body — so  truly  are  the  principles  of  physiology  those  also  of  a 
true  sociology. 

"  You  have  the  maxim,  in  union  is  power.  The  more  complete 
the  unity,  the  greater  the  power.  The  principle  of  every  unity  is 
an  orderly  obedience  to  the  common  life.  The  power  of  a  mob  is 
in  unity  of  purpose,  the  efficiency  of  an  army  is  an  orderly  obedi- 
ence ;  the  harmony  of  a  society  is  in  the  obedience  of  each  member 
to  the  central  life  or  idea  of  that  society." 

"But  is  not  this  a  despotism?" 

"  Yes,  if  you  please  to  term  it  so  ;  but  not  in  the  proper  sense  of 
that  word.  Despotism  expresses  the  exercise  of  arbitrary  power, 
uncontroled  by  principle  or  law.  The  obedience  which  a  true  so- 
ciety demands  is  an  obedience  to  law,  an  orderly  accordance  with 
principle,  a  harmonization  with  the  controling  idea  of  the  life.  Ab- 
solute freedom  is  the  condition  of  order  by  obedience.  The  tree 
is  free  to  expand  according  to  the  law  of  its  life,  but  not  otherwise. 
Every  animal,  in  appropriate  conditions,  obeys  its  attractions  and 
repulsions,  which  form  its  life.  The  planets  move  in  perfect  order, 
harmony  and  obedience  to  the  laws  of  motion.  The  man  who  con- 
forms his  life  to  his  highest  sense  of  right,  lives  in  obedience  to  its 
requirements.  This  is  all.  The  freedom  we  demand  and  enjoy,  is 
the  freedom  of  each  to  live  his  or  her  own  truest  life." 

As  no  work,  no  conversation,  and  no  pleasure,  is  ever  prolonged 
to  weariness  tending  to  exhaustion  here,  I  now  took  my  leave  of 
Melodia  ;  rather  we  both  walked  out  upon  the  lawn,  where  we  met 
Vincent,  returning  from  a  short  session  of  active  labor.  Its  glow 
was  in  his  cheek,  and  its  moisture  on  his  broAV.  He  greeted  Melodia 
tenderly;  then,  at  a  suggestive  look  from  her,  perhaps,  he  took  my 
arm  and  walked  with  me  to  a  shaded  seat.     For  a  few  moments  we 


EsPERAXZA.  207 

looked  out  on  the  scene  before  and  around  us.  There  lay  the  lake, 
in  its  calm  beauty,  mirroring  the  heavens.  Industrious  groups 
were  working  in  garden,  orchards,  and  fields,  and  their  songs  came 
to  us  in  softened  cadences.  Far  across  the  lake  we  heard  signal 
notes  of  a  bugle.  There  was  the  hum  of  machinery  and  labor  from 
the  workshops.  The  fountains  threw  up  their  silvery  spray,  which 
fell  in  tinkling  music.  Gleeful  children  made  sport  of  industry,  or 
gathered  around  some  one  who  both  taught  and  amused  them. 

"The  observation  of  our  life,"  said  Vincent,  "teaches  most  of 
its  lessons ;  but  there  are  some  principles  which  may  not  be  appar- 
ent to  a  hasty  observer.  It  is  evident  that  we  have  escaped  many 
of  the  evils  of  civilized  society  and  morality  ;  from  poverty,  and  its 
depressing  and  debasing  conditions ;  from  competition,  with  its 
frauds  and  spoliations ;  from  many  evil  and  diseasing  habits  and 
circumstances.  We  have  wealth,  peace,  competence,  a  cheerful 
co-operation,  an  attractive  industry,  a  sphere  of  beauty  and  refine- 
ment, and  the  pervading  charm  of  harmonic  social  relations  ;  of 
friendship,  which  unites  us  all  in  a  common  brotherhood;  of  a  true 
recognition  of  qualities  which  awards  to  each  his  proper  social  po- 
sition; of  love,  which  is  the  happiness  of  every  true  and  noble  heart, 
and  of  the  tender  relations  which  subsist  between  the  gradations  of 
age. 

"  All  this  you  have  seen,  and  you  know,  doubtless,  natural  and 
spontaneous  as  these  blessings  here  seem  to  you,  that  they  do  not 
exist,  only  as  exceptionally  and  fragmentarily,  elsewhere  on  this 
planet.  Esperanza  is  the  emergence  of  order  out  of  confusion ; 
harmony  from  discord.  It  is  our  hope  and  faith  that  from  this 
germinal  point  it  may  spread  over  the  earth;  that  the  human  race 
may  become  one  grand  associated  family;  and  {hat  man  may  fulfil 
his  destiny,  as  lord  of  the  domain  of  nature,  and  harmonizer  of  the 
globe." 

"You  spoke  just  now  of  those  principles,  which  I  might  over- 
look, in  the  observation  of  so  much  material  prosperity  and  social 
happiness,"  I  observed. 

"  Yes  ;  it  is  due  to  you,  who  will  soon  be  separated  from  us,  that 
you  should  know  the  interior  of  our  life,  and  how  much  it  differs 


208  EsPKBANZA, 

from  that  which  you  have  been  accustomed  to  observe.  It  differs 
in  causes,  as  in  effects.  If  you  would  know  the  sources  of  the  evils 
'n  civilization,  you  must  look  for  them  to  the  principles  on  which 
it  is  based. 

"  Thus  the  wrongs  and  evils  of  excessive  individual  wealth  and 
general  poverty ;  of  universal  conflict,  fraud  and  robbery,  come 
from  the  prevailing  systems  of  commerce  and  finance,  and  the  laws 
and  institutions  respecting  property. 

"  The  social  discords  aad  miseries  find  their  center  and  source 
in  the  monogamic,  indissoluble  marriage  and  isolate  household,  with 
its  selfishness,  deprivations,  and  moralities. 

"  So  of  the  political  and  religious  systems — an  evil  tree  cannot 
bring  forth  good  fruit.  A  trial  of  thirty  centuries  has  given  but 
one  result — thirty  centuries  of  toilsome  progress  have  only  prepared 
a  few  of  the  foremost  of  our  race  to  accept  the  idea;  and  a  few  to 
enter  upon  the  practice,  of  harmonic  relations. 

"  There  was  no  possibility  of  a  half  way  reform.  Every  eflbrfc 
at  a  partial  harmonization  must  necessarily  fail.  A  society,  with 
separate  individual  interests,  is  a  school  of  selfishness.  A  society, 
with  the  social  moralities  of  civilization,  contains  the  seeds  of  dis- 
solution. 

"It  was  required  therefore  that  all  who  came  into  our  life,  should 
come,  first  as  distinct,  separate,  uttei-ly  free  individuals.  The  hus- 
band, the  wife,  the  parent,  the  child,  as  such,  and  as  having  any 
legal,  or  arbitrary  claim  upon  or  power  over  each  other,  we  could 
not  recognize.  Each  began  our  life  as  a  free  and  independent  hu- 
man beinsf,  as  if  such  relations  had  never  existed.  That  a  man 
or  woman  acknowledged  any  claim  or  right  of  husband  or  wife, 
because  of  the  customary  or  legal  relation,  was  enough  to  exclude 
them  from  our  life  ;  the  very  first  condition  of  which  is  absolute 
freedom. 

"  Thus  freed  from  these  entangling  alliances,  disintegrated,  and 
brought  into  the  rank  of  independent  human  beings,  all  had  that 
work  of  individual  purification  and  harmonization  of  which  you 
have  heard,  and  the  method  of  which  has  been  revealed  to  you. 

"  The  man  or  woman,  so  made  free,  pure,  and  equilibrated  in  all 


ESPERANZA.  209 

faculties,  is  now  ready  to  form  true  relations  in  friendship,  love, 
and  that  grouping  of  congenial  natures  which  forms  the  true  fam- 
ily or  group  of  affection.  These  groups  are  formed  by  a  harmonic 
law,  on  centers  or  pivots ;  thence  branching  or  radiating  outward, 
like  the  groups  of  all  organic  formations,  and  in  virtue  of  the  same 
laws  of  order  and  harmony. 

"  The  central  passion  of  harmony,  is  that  of  Love,  which  defines 
the  relations  of  the  two  great  divisions  into  which  humanity  is  di- 
vided. Love,  or  the  sexual  passion,  in  civilization,  is  the  direct  or 
indirect  cause  of  its  deepest  evils.  Li  a  false  moralism,  all  falsities 
cluster  around  this  central  falsity.  Even  so  in  a  true  life,  all  true 
relations  cluster  round  this  central  truth.  All  harmonies,  material 
and  spiritual,  revoh'e  around  this  pivotal  harmony,  the  harmonic 
love.  It  binds  us  all  in  one.  It  is  the  key-stone  of  our  social  fab- 
ric— the  key-note  of  our  harmony.  Whoever  cannot  accept  this 
fundamental  principle  is  not  yet  developed  up  to  the  plane  of  our 
life.  There  must  be,  with  all  who  would  live  this  life,  the  utter 
abandonment  of  all  selfish  or  exclusive  claim  of  woman  to  man  or  man 
to  woman  ;  the  absolute  freedom  of  all  relations  ;  but  no  less  the  abso- 
lute recognition  of  the  laws  of  harmony  in  all  relations.  I  wish  to 
make  this  very  clear  to  you,  not  only  as  a  postulate,  but  as  a  de- 
monstration. I  would  show  you  why  this  must  be.  I  will  take 
your  own  case.  You  come  here,  attracted  to  our  life,  or  accepting 
the  relation  of  a  noviciate  in  its  order.  You  come  with  a  love, 
which  you  are  not  required  to  abandon,  but  only  to  purify  from  all 
taint  of  selfishness,  and  tyranny  of  claim  and  custom.  You  have  to 
assert  your  freedom,  not  from,  but  in  this  love  ;  and  you  have  also 
to  set  this  beloved  one  as  absolutely  free.  You  have  found  other 
attractions  here,  the  germs,  it  may  be,  of  the  loves  of  the  future.  She 
whom  you  hope  to  bring  with  you  to  our  home,  and  whom  we 
shall  joyfully  welcome,  if  she  prove  to  be  one  of  ours,  will  also  find 
her  own  attractions  here.  But  all  of  these,  in  a  true  and  pure  life, 
are  as  much  subject  to  principles  and  laws  of  relation  as  the  harmo- 
nies of  music,  colors,  or  odors.  Each  love  must  be  in  harmony 
with  the  other  loves.  These  separate  unities  combine  to  form  the 
unities  of  the  groups  of  love  ;  and  these  groups  interlock,  to  form 
IS 


210  EsPEKANZA. 

the  series  of  our  society.  The  threads  can  be  traced  from  center 
to  circumference,  like  the  nervous  system,  which  unites  all  hearts 
to  the  central  love  life  and  gives  to  us  unity  of  feeling,  unity  of 
thought  and  unity  of  action.  An  injury  done  to  the  love  life  of  the 
least  of  our  little  ones,  is  felt  in  the  central  Hfe.  It  is  thus  that  the 
good  of  each  one  is  the  good  of  all.  And  this  love  circulation  is 
as  unimpeded  and  universal,  as  the  corresponding  circulation  of 
blood  in  the  physical  system  ;  this  unimpeded  circulation  which  is 
the  condition  of  life  to  every  organized  being. 

"  You  will  study  this,  both  here  and  in  your  absence.  Give 
yourself  up  to  the  law  of  growth,  and  circulation.  No  ligatures, 
no  compressions,  no  congestions,  no  starvations." 

Vincent  left  me,  and  with  his  springy  elastic  step,  flew  up  the 
stair  case  to  find  Harmonia,  whom  one  would  think  the  object  of 
his  single  adoration. 

I  asked  her  once — "  Do  you  never  wish  that  Vincent  loved  you 
with  his  whole  heart  ?" 

"It  is  a  great  heart,"  she  replied ;  "but  I  think  it  is  all  mine." 

"  You  think  others  have  no  share  in  it  ?" 

"I  think  love  is  one,"  she  said.  "I  love  with  my  whole  heart 
always,  and  each  one  according  to  the  unities  which  we  have  de- 
veloped. In  music,  if  I  like  Bethoven,  does  he  lose  anything  of 
my  admiration,  when  I  come  to  appreciate  Mozart  ?  If  a  mother 
loves  one  child  with  her  whole  maternal  heart,  is  her  heart  divided 
into  six  pieces  when  she  has  six  children  ?  Or,  what  is  better, 
let  me  appeal  to  your  own  experience.  Do  you  love  your  Clara 
less,  or  less  wholly,  since ,  you  have  seen  Melodia,  or  Serafa,  or 
Evaline,  or  me  ?" 

With  my  whole  heart,  dear  Clara,  do  I  love  you.  I  feel  and 
know  it.  But  I  should  be  the  meanest,  most  cowardly  and  most 
sacreligious  of  wretches,  if  I  were  to  deny  that  with  my  whole 
heart  also  I  love  those  who  are  so  lovely  to  me,  here,  in  this  para- 
dise, so  soon  to  be  a  Paradise  Lost  to  me  ;  but  soon  also,  I  fondly 
trust,  to  be  a  Paradise  Regained. 


XIV. 

THE  LOVES  OF  HARMONY. 

Clara  Mine  :  It  is  true — true  to  my  inmost  heart  and  life.  I 
am  thine,  and  thou  art  mine.  I  feel  a  sacredness  in  these  words 
I  have  not  felt  before.  I  am  not  a  property,  a  possession,  a  pris- 
oner, a  slave  ;  but  a  free,  self-centered  being.  This  is  what  I  wish 
to  be,  and,  with  all  the  power  of  my  soul,  will  to  be.  And  I  am 
thine,  not  in  obedience  to  any  clutch,  or  claim,  or  outward  bond  ; 
but  as  the  spontaneous  act  of  my  free  spirit.  And  so  must  thou 
be  to  me.     0  mine  !  mine,  in  the  inmost  life. 

I  live  here,  hour  by  hour,  in  the  sphere  of  a  pervading,  purify- 
ing love.  It  is  a  love  that  warms  all  hearts,  and  attunes  them  into 
the  sweet  harmony  of  this  life.  I  melt  into  it ;  I  am  absorbed  by 
it ;  and  the  old  selfish,  the  miserable,  craving,  clutching,  eo-otism 
of  the  isolate,  discordant,  and  warring  life,  dies  out  of  my  spirit. 

I  do  not  give  you  the  details  of  our  daily  life ;  though  each  has 
its  new  interest  and  enjoyment.  It  is  a  life  of  continual  progress — 
never  of  a  dead  routine.  It  is  like  a  tree  that  is  constantly 
expanding  with  its  daily  growth.  The  elements,  indeed,  are  the 
same ;  the  laws  forever  the  same,  but  the  movement  is  onward,  and 
each  day  presents  some  new  achievement.  Last  night,  for  exam- 
ple, we  had  a  comedy,  full  of  droll,  sharp,  and  yet  genial  satire,  in 
which  the  little  faults  and  peculiairities  of  half  a  dozen  persons 
were  ridiculed  in  such  a  way,  as  to  amuse  them  more,  perhaps, 
than  any  others  in  the  audience.  It  was  a  little  caricature,  and 
every  stroke  told.  It  is  by  this  means  that  many  faults  are  cor- 
re'cted. 

If  a  custom  or  habit  begins  to  get  ground  here,  some  one  writes 
a  comedy  or  force,  in  which  it  is  worked  out  to  its  pa—ible  cons^ 

•211 


212  ESPERANZA. 


quences.  It  is  the  reductio  ad  absurdum  in  action.  No  one  is 
hurt,  and  all  are  warned.  The  pervading  love  life — the  afFectional 
interlocking  of  all  groups  in  this  series,  gives  it  the  sensitiveness 
of  an  organized  body.  In  our  dislocated,  dismembered  society, 
some  members  suffer,  and  some  die,  and  the  rest  are  but  little  con- 
scious of  the  evil.  Our  social  life  is  paralyzed.  Men  and  women 
are  diseased,  starved,  depraved  and  cut  off,  without  our  perception. 

It  is  not  so  here.  The  humblest  member  of  this  society  is  so 
joined  to  the  central  life,  that  his  wants,  his  pains,  his  disorders, 
would  be  felt,  and  if  possible  remedied.  And  there  is  an  em- 
bodied justice  here,  which  all  may  trust,  and  an  embodied  love  or 
philanthropy,  on  which  all  can  securely  repose.  The  society  has 
the  same  faculties  as  the  individual.  As  a  whole  body  or  organi- 
zation, it  has  its  benevolence,  its  conscience,  its  love.  And  while 
the  individual  never  loses  his  individuality,  he  is  still  in  entire 
unity  with  the  whole,  and  the  great  problem  is  solved,  of  finding 
a  social  state  in  which  the  highest  good  and  happiness  of  each,  is 
not  only  consistent  with,  but  promotive  of,  the  highest  good  and 
happiness  of  all. 

"If  one  person  here  were  sick;  or  in  any  want,  spiritual  or  mate- 
rial, or  suffering  any  unhappiness,"  said  Vincent,  to-day,  "every 
person  here  would  be  less  happy.  Every  one,  for  his  own  good,  if 
there  were  no  other  motive,  would  seek  to  cure  the  sickness,  sup- 
ply the  want,  or  remedy  the  evil.  It  would  come  to  the  heart 
and  head  of  our  body,  and  help  would  come.  What  could  resist 
the  united  love,  and  will,  and  power  of  a  body  so  united.  You 
know  what  the  magnetism,  and  strength,  and  sympathy  of  one  or 
two  may  be  to  you.  It  conquers  pain  and  disease  ;  it  supplies  our 
deficiences,  or  enables  us  to  bear  them.  It  compensates  losses. 
It  brings  us  the  riches  of  life.  How  much  greater  might  this 
TDOwer  be  when  exercised  by  a  harmonious  society." 

"  I  can  see  that  this  is  true  of  philanthropy,  benevolence,  or  the 
sentiment  of  paternity,"  I  said;  "but  will  you  explain  to  me 
how  far  it  is  so  of  the  more  intimate  and  personal  love  of  the 
sexual  attraction  or  relation  ?  " 

"Yes  ;  I  will  try  ;  for  I  wish  you  to  understand  this  ;  the  more 


ESPERAXZA.  213 

especially  as  you  may  have  to  explain  it  to  others.  You  may  bring 
it  nearer  to  their  minds  than  I  can.  It  is  well,  often,  that  the  leacher 
be  not  far  in  adv^ance  of  his  pupils.  Our  best  teachers,  in  many 
things,  are  those  one  grade  in  advance. 

"  Our  love  life  is  composed  of  concentric  spheres.  The  external 
is  philanthropy,  which  grasps  all  humanity.  The  love  of  friend- 
ship or  congeniality  takes  in  numbers  of  both  sexes,  and  of  differ- 
ent ages.  Each  faculty  has  its  own  loves,  which  join  together 
persons  by  similarity  of  tastes  and  pursuits.  Thus  scholars  and 
artists  flock  together.  There  is  also  an  attraction  of  contrast,  or 
supply  and  demand,  by  which  dissimilar  persons  are  drawn  to- 
gether. We  have  the  paternal  instinct,  special  and  general,  by 
which  we  love  our  own  children  because  they  belong  to  us,  or  those 
we  love,  or  merely  because  they  are  children.  There  is  also  the 
love  reverence  by  which  the  young  love  those  who  are  older  than 
themselves.  These  loves  combine  variously,  several  entering  into 
one  combined  passion. 

"  We  find  a  natural  or  instinctive  attraction,  tending  to  unity 
between  our  young  people  and  the  middle  aged  ;  a  relation  of  mu- 
tual help.  So  between  infancy  and  old  age.  Naturally,  the  sex- 
ual attraction  modifies  all  these  loves,  or  relations.  Other  things 
being  equal,  men  are  more  benevolent,  more  friendly,  more  ten- 
derly parental,  more  reverent  and  protective  toward  women.  And 
the  reverse  of  this  is  true ;  yet  men  demand  the  manly,  and  women 
the  Avomanly  sympathy. 

"In  all  these  loves,  or  forms  of  love,  there  are  certain  laws  of 
diffusion  or  exclusion,  of  relation,  or  want  of  relation  A  man  or 
woman  may  be  joined  to  us  by  the  sphere  of  philanthropy,  but  be 
excluded  from  friendship  or  any  nearer  relation.  I  may  have  a 
warm  friendship  for  a  woman  whom  I  could  never  love  with  a 
tender,  spiritual  sympathy  ;  and  you  may  he  able  to  conceive  of 
having  a  very  tender  spiritual  love  for  one,  with  whom  you  might 
never  wish  to  come  into  the  most  intimate  relation. 

All  these  passions  or  sentiments  are  confused,  distorted,  or  de- 
stroyed in  the  world  of  civilization.  In  that  corporate  Ishmaelism 
where  every  man's  hand  is  against  every  man,  there  springs  up  a 


214  ESPERANZA. 

deep,  pervading,  oflfensive  and  defensive  selfishness.  The  pro- 
perty feeling  is  applied  to  eTcry  thing.  It  is  my  house,  my  land, 
my  friend,  iny  wife,  my  children.  This  Mr  becocnes  a  word  of  ter- 
rible power.  With  us  it  is  very  much  changed.  We  use  the  pro- 
nouns we,  us,  and  our,  much  oftener.  The  little  my  has  all  its 
rights,  but  in  a  true  subordination  to  the  much  larger  our,  which 
includes  all  the  little  mys. 

"The  policy  in  the  world  of  civilization  is  that  each  man  must 
have  his  own  love,  as  his  own  exclusive  property,  and  all  teach,  and 
many  feel,  that  this  is  the  natural  law.  That  which  is  most 
craved,  and  most  valued,  becomes  most  subject  to  the  property 
feeling,  hence  the  claim,  and  right,  and  absolute  despotism  which 
men  and  women  assert  and  exert  over  each  other,  in  the  civilized 
marriage,  is  the  most  oppressive  and  terrible  of  all  the  slaveries  of 
civilization.  Where  it  is  mutual,  it  is  mutually  absorbant  and 
balancing,  and  borne  often  unconsciously,  supported  as  it  is  by 
custom,  habit,  opinion  and  law.  But  let  its  mutualness  cease,  and 
it  becomes  the  most  terrible  hell  to  which  man  or  woman  can  be 
condemned. 

"  This  state  does  not  belong  to  our  life.  It  is  utterly  inconsistent 
with  the  life  of  a  harmonious  society,  of  which  the  love  of  the  sexes 
must  be  the  central  harmonizing  power.  A  selfish,  enslaving,  de- 
basing property  love,  the  love  of  clutch,  claim,  and  exclusive  right, 
must  be  an  element  of  discord  iij  every  society,  tending  to  the 
rupture  of  all  other  relations,  and  to  a  complete  individual  selfish- 
ness and  isolation.  Thus  the  individual,  selfish,  isolate  marriage 
can  never  be  an  element  of  a  true  society.  All  have  failed,  and  all 
must  fail,  which  attempt  to  include  this  element.  It  belongs  to 
discord,  and  not  to  harmony. 

"Have  you  any  objection,"  I  asked,  " to  giving  me  your  own 
experience  in  this  matter  ?  " 

"None,  whatever,"  he  replied,  in  a  quiet,  serious  tone,  as  if  his 
most  sacred  life  was  devoted  to  the  great  idea.  "I  was  born  in 
civilization,  and  experienced  some  of  its  evils ;  but,  either  from  a 
natural  bias  or  from  peculiar  circumstances,  I  grew  up  in  much 
freedom  frorn  its  influences.     My  f^arly  studies  were  of  a  socialistic 


EsPERANZA.  215 

tendency.  Nature  and  man  were  the  objects  of  my  investigations. 
I  never  fell  into  the  social  and  domestic  slaveries  of  the  world 
around  me.     I  grew  more  and  more  free. 

"  But  I  found  in  myself  a  hereditary  taint  of  selfishness,  which 
displayed  itself  in  exclusive  claim  and  morbid  jealousy  of  those  I 
loved.  My  reason,  my  sense  of  right,  and  my  desire  for  a  true  life, 
have  enabled  me  to  overcome  this  depravity.  I  am  content  now  to 
have  of  every  man,  every  woman,  and  every  child  around  me, 
what  is  truly  and  sacredly  mine,  just  as  I  am  content  not  to  be  a 
pirate,  a  thief,  or  a  miser.  The  love  that  flows  to  me,  freely,  the 
spontaneous  offerings  of  true  and  loving  hearts,  is  mine  by  a  divine 
right,  and  brings  me  the 'most  beautiful  happiness.  The  love  that 
is  claimed,  clutched  and  enforced,  by  either  a  physical  or  spiritual 
despotism,  gives  no  such  happiness. 

"  The  world  shows  us  all  grades  of  the  debasement  of  love.  The 
Australian,  wanting  a  woman,  knocks  down  and  drags  off"  to  his 
hut  the  first  one  he  finds,  or  fancies.  Savages,  a  little  more  ad- 
vanced, buy  their  women  with  skins,  trinkets,    and  liquors. 

"  In  barbarous  countries,  which  include  more  than  half  the  popu- 
lation of  the  earth,  women  are  thus  bought  and  enslaved.  The 
civilizee  knocks  down  his  bride  with  fine  speeches,  and  seductive 
behaviour,  or  buys  her  with  position  and  fortune.  In  all  cases, 
the  freedom,  self-hood,  and  spontaneity  of  the  woman,  especially, 
and  often  of  both,  are  sacrificed  and  lost.  The  selfish  and  savage 
.claim  of  a  man  over  the  heart  and  person  of  a  woman  is  sanctioned 
by  law,  and  sanctified  by  religion.  This  is  the  central  Evil  of  the 
world. 

"  All  this  I  have  long  since  seen,  and  felt  and  deplored ;  and  I 
have  done  what  I  could  to  awaken  thoughtful  men  and  women  to 
a  consideration  of  this  evil ;  but  it  is  a  part  and  parcel  of  civiliza- 
tion, the  center  and  pivot  of  its  yreat  system  of  wrongs ;  and  also 
its  necessity.  Only  in  a  new  and  true  social  organization  could  a 
remedy  be  found  for  such  a  pervading  evil.  It  is  at  once  the  bane 
and  the  necessity  of  the  old  society. 

"In  my  present  life,  and  in  the  life  of  our  society,  all  this  is 
swept  away.     So  far  from  its  being  a  necessity,  we  have  to  guard 


216  EsPERANZA. 

more  carefully  against  selfishness  and  exclusiveness  here,  than 
elsewhere,  because  here  it  would  be  the  greatest  evil.  Were  any 
man  here  to  assert  an  exclusive  property  claim  to  any  woman,  as  wife 
or  mistress,  or  any  woman  to  assert  a  similar  claim  to  any  man,  it 
would  be  felt  as  the  violation  of  the  rights  of  every  other  person 
in  our  society. 

"There  is,  therefore,  but  one  principle  for  us,  and  that  is  the 
absolute  right  of  individual  self-ownership,  and  the  consequent 
absolute  freedom  of  the  affections.  Living  in  the  purity  of  a 
healthful  life,  with  the  development  and  exercise  of  all  faculties, 
we  find  it  entirely  safe  to  leave  the  relations  of  love,  as  all  others, 
to  be  determined  by  those  attractions  which  are  proportional  to 
destinies.  We  recognize,  as  a  principle,  the  self-ownership  of  wo- 
man, and  her  queenship  in  the  realm  of  love — her  consequent  right 
to  the  bestowal  of  her  affections  and  her  person. 

"  It  is  our  gallantry,  our  chivalry,  to  relinquish  and  secure  to  wo- 
man this,  her  highest  right.  Consequently,  love,  and  its  uses, 
and  happiness,  are  in  her  keeping.  It  is  she  v/^ho  regulates  the 
sacred  function  of  maternity.  Never,  with  us,  is  a  child  forced 
upon  a  reluctant  mother ;  and  such  is  the  sense  of  duty  and  re- 
sponsibility here,  that  no  woman  in  our  society  would  have  a  child 
unless  antisfied  that  it  was  her  highest  duty  to  humanity  and  to  God. 

"  This  secures  the  purity  of  all  relations.  The  highest  and  most 
integral  loves  alone  are  ultimated ;  and  love,  no  longer  an  idle, 
selfish,  sensual  passion,  becomes  the  holiest  thing  in  our  lives. 
Love  is  our  religion,  and  our  religion  is  love. 

"  Marriage,  in  civilization,  is,  for  the  most  part,  a  legal  license  for 
sensuality.  We  who  have  too  many  uses  for  our  vital  forces,  to 
waste  them  in  such  sensuality,  have  no  need  of  such  a  license  ; 
nor  have  we  the  selfish  appropriativeness,  that  demands  a  legal 
claim  to  property,  to  which  we  assert  exclusive  ownership. 

"You  have  asked  my  own  experience.  It  is  that  of  all.  The 
freedom  of  love  secures  the  purity  of  love.  The  purity  of  love 
permits  its  freedom.  All  good  and  right  things  act  reciprocally — 
working  together  for  good.  You  have  been  in  the  center  of  our 
life,  and  you  know  those  who  love  me  most  intimately,  and  those  to 


ESPERANZA.  217 

whom  my  whole  life  is  devoted.  I  could  not  lose  the  love  of  any 
one  without  a  pang — a  great  sorrow.  But  the  life  is  more  than 
the  loves,  which  are  the  precious  blossoms  of  the  life  ;  and  if  any 
one  of  these  were  to  be  false  to  the  life,  my  love  for  her  would  die 
out  of  my  heart :  and  if  I  were  myself  to  be  selfish  and  false,  there 
is  not  one  of  these,  I  hope  and  believe,  who  would  not  exclude  me 
from  her  love ;  or,  rather,  whose  love,  would  not  also  die,  with 
whatever  regrets,  but  not  the  less  die,  and  be  buried  as  a  dead 
thins:,  out  of  sight. 

"  Every  heart  has  its  own  capacities  and  its  own  wants.  I  can- 
not speak  for  many,  much  less  for  all.  I  have  never  known  man 
or  woman,  Avho,  deprived  of  one  love,  would  not  seek  another.  I 
have  seen  few,  if  any,  who  were  not  capable  of  more  than  one 
love,  or  rather,  of  having  more  than  one  object  of  love  at  the  same 
time.  I  have  loves  on  the  earth,  and  very  real  and  sacred  loves  in 
the  heavens  ;  and  so,  I  hope  and  believe,  have  most  men  and  wo- 
men. The  number  whom  it  is  possible  to  love,  with  the  intensity 
of  passion,  is  probably  limited  by  a  law.  All  regular  groups  are 
restricted  in  the  number  of  individuals  composing  them.  In  music 
a  few  notes  compose  the  scale  of  harmony.  In  painting,  a  few 
colors.  The  heart  of  man  finds  its  deepest  and  truest  happiness 
in  the  harmony  of  loves." 

Vincent  sat  a  moment  in  a  silence  which  I  did  not  venture  to 
interrupt — then  went  slowly  away.  I  pondered  his  words  ;  and 
that  I  might  not  lose  them,  came  at  once  and  have  written  them 
down  as  nearly  as  I  can  remember.  Having  performed  this  duty, 
I  will  pursue  my  investigations. 

And  to  whom  do  you  think  I  next  addressed  myself.  Not 
to  any  man,  for  I  had  got  the  masculine  statement  from  Vincent. 
Nor  did  I  go  to  Harmonia,  or  Melodia,  to  the  gentle  Evaline,  or  the 
spirituel  Serafa,  nor  to  my  piquant  Laura,  nor  the  calm  Eugenia. 
I  did  not  seek  any  one  ;  but  one  came  to  me.  I  was  walking  near 
the  house,  when  I  was  met  by  the  rosy  Angela,  coming  from  the 
garden . 

"  0  Mr.  Frank,"  she  cried,   "I  am   so  glad  to  havo  met  you. 


218  EsPKRANZA. 

I  hare  ■worked  two  hours,  and  that  is  as  long  as  any  one  should 
work  at  once ;  and  now  I  want  you  to  be  my  beau,  and  walk  with 
me,  and  amuse  me,  just  as  you  do  the  young  ladies  in  New 
York." 

She  took  my  arm  with  just  such  a  demure  look  as  I  have  seen 
a  thousand  times,  and  prepared  herself  for  the  customary  compli- 
ments.    I  could  only  laugh. 

"  Well,  Mr.  Frank,  is  that  the  way  you  treat  a  young  lady  who 
faTors  you  by  taking  your  arm  ?"  said  she,  with  a  pretty  aflfecta- 
tion  of  indignation.  "  Why  don't  you  begin  ?  Tell  me  that  it  is  a 
fine  day,  and  pleasanter  than  it  was  yesterday  ;  but  not  so  pleasant 
as  you  hope  it  will  be  to-morrow ;  that  the  country  is  delightful, 
especially  in  such  pleasant  society ;  and  that  the  flowers  are  beau- 
tiful, but  you  prefer  other  beauties,  you  know ;  that  the  waves  are 
sparkling,  but  not  so  brilliant  as  those  corruscations  which  glitter 
— hem  ! — and  that  all  the  beauties  and  sublimities ^of  nature  are 
not  to  be  compared  to  the — what-d'ye-call-em?  You  know,  Mr. 
Frank.  Why  don't  you  talk  to  me  in  this  fashion  of  nonsense  ? 
Oh  !  how  stupid  you  are,  to  be  sure !  " 

"Excuse  me.  Miss  Angela,"  I  said,  "I  have  been  talking  and 
thinking  on  some  serious  questions." 

"Suchas— ?" 

"Love." 

The  child's  whole  manner  changed  to  me.  She  looked  in  my 
face  with  a  serious  earnestness.  "  Forgive  me,  dear  Frank,"  she 
said,  "I  ought  to  have  taken  better  notice  of  you.  I  saw  you 
talking  with  my  father;  but  it  was  an  hour  ago." 

I  wish  you  could  hear  this  girl  speak  the  words  "  my  father.'^  I 
cannot  tell  you  what  there  was  of  tender,  reverent  pride  and  af- 
fection  in  them. 

"It  was,"  I  answered,  "and  I  have  been  trying  to  write  down 
all  he  said." 

"  That  is  right,  Mr.  Frank.  My  father  is  very  wise,  and  you 
must  learn  all  you  can  of  him.  He  seems  cold  and  abstracted 
sometimes,  but  he  loves  to  talk  with  the  young.  Frank,  you  must 
love  my  father ! " 


ESPBSANZA.  2 1  y 

"  You  need  not  tell  me  that — but  to-day  he  was  very  kind,  and 
gave  me  much  information." 

"And  still  you  are  unsatisfied?"  said  she  ;  as  if  such  a  thing 
"were  scarcely  possible,  or  a  proof  of  a  wonderful  degree  of  stu- 
pidity. 

"Yes,  unsatisfied,  if  you  please,  Miss  Angela;  but  not  dissat- 
isfied. Mr.  Vincent's  statement  of  the  love  relations,  existing  in 
this  society,  is  clear  and  satisfactory ;  but  I  wish  also  to  see  how 
the  same  subject  would  seem  to  a  woman." 

"  Because  women  are  not  philosophers  ;  is  that  it  ?  " 

"  That  is  near  enough." 

"  Well,  Mr.  Frank,  if  I  am  not  a  woman  now  I  hope  I  shall  be, 
sometime.     Suppose  you  ask  me." 

I  was  surprised  at  this — but  why  should  I  not  seek  wisdom 
from  a  child;  one  so  clear,  pure,  and  unperverted  as  this  assuredly 
is  ?    Without  waiting  for  my  questions,  she  said  ; 

"  I  have  seen  a  little  of  the  world,  and  read  history,  poetry,  plays 
and  romances,  inAvhichitismoreorless  truthfully  represented.  And 
I  think,  Mr.  Frank,  that  the  human  world  is  very  poor,  and  mean, 
and  bad.  The  trees  are  good  and  beautiful  in  their  way  ;  so  are 
the  animals,  in  theirs.  They  live  their  true  lives.  But  men  and 
women  have  lived  very  perversely.  The  loves  of  the  plants  are 
varied,  and  natural  and  beautiful.  I  read  of  them  in  Darwin  first, 
and  then  I  study  them  in  themselves.  Hosv  respectable  all  the 
animals  are  in  their  relations.  Even  the  savage  ones — you  see  that 
they  act  in  character.  Man  only  is  a  hypocrite — men  and  womea 
both ;  and  women  most,  just  because  they  are  the  most  enslaved. 

"I  am  not  old  enough  to  have  experience  of  love  ;  but  it  comes 
first  in  idea,  in  the  imagination ;  and  I  think  it  is  as  clear  there,  as 
it  ever  is.  Now  I  can  imagine  myself  loving  you,  a  few  years 
hence,  very  dearly;  but  I  can  never  imagine  myself  bound  to  you 
in  a  civilized  marriage.  It  might  be  that  this  love  would  satisfy 
my  heart,  if  you  were  great  and  varied  enough  ;  but  I  could  not 
live  in  the  most  sacred  love  that  ever  the  pure  heart  imagined,  if 
it  was  an  outward  bond  to  me. 

"  With  us,  each  d-ay  is  a  new  life.     V\'hat  I  f«h  or  did  yesterday, 


220  ESPERANZA. 

does  not  bind  me  to-day.  What  I  feel  to-day  must  not  enslave  me 
to-morrow.  That  which  is  my  brightest  ideal  this  year,  might  next 
year  become  the  most  abhorrent  shivery  to  me.  So,  Mr.  Frank, 
if  you  are  ever  a  lover  mine,  you  will  have  to  be  good,  and  worthy, 
and  attractive  to  me  every  day.  No  one  can  promise  to  love  next 
week  or  next  year.  How  stupid  then  to  make  a  vow,  or  oath,  or 
contract  to  love  all  one's  life  ! 

"  The  young  girl,  who  stands  at  the  marriage  altar,  promises  to 
love,  honor,  and  obey — an  angel ;  her  ideal  perfection.  I  mean  if 
she  is  honest  and  is  not  selling  herself  like  a  prostitute.  But  in  a 
month  or  a  year,  she  finds  that  the  man  who  claims  to  own  her  is 
not  that  angel,  but  a  very  common  mortal,  or  worse.  He  is  not 
the  man  she  bargained  for.  He  is  not  the  man  she  promised  to  love, 
loved,  or  ever  could  love.  You  may  say,  she  is  bound  to  keep  her 
promise,  however  mistaken  and  false.  I  say  she  cannot.  It  is  a 
moral  impossibility. 

"  Were  I  in  the  world  I  would  make  no  such  promise.  Here  it 
will  never  be  required  of  me.  No  man  or  woman  here  promises 
anything,  but  to  be  true  to  themselves,  and  their  highest  sense  of 
right,  in  all  relations." 

"  And  this  life,  my  Angela,  is  full  of  promise  to  you  ?  " 

"Oh,  better  than  that,  Mr.  Frank.  It  is  full  of  real  happiness. 
Where  in  -the  world  could  I  find  so  much  ?  Where  such  comfort 
and  luxury ;  so  many  friends  ;  such  pleasant  and  varied  employ- 
ments ;  so  much  exercise  for  my  talents  ;  such  opportunities  for 
development ;  such  a  home  and  such  loves  ?  The  dear  life  here 
is  full  af  all  beautiful  things,  even  now.  As  my  life  opens,  and 
our  state  and  condition  improves,  there  will  be  more  happiness. 
I  shall  be  able  to  help  my  dear  father  and  mother;  the  mother  to 
v/^hom  we  all  owe  everything  in  our  life,  and  our  glorious  Melodia, 
and  dear  Evaline.  Ah  !  my  friend,  beautiful  as  I  can  believe  that 
our  life  seems  to  you,  it  is  yet  more  so  to  us." 

"  And  the  world?  " 

"  I  know  it  a  little,  for  myself ;  and  more  from  others.  It  is  very 
poor  and  mean  at  the  best.  I  read  of  it  sometimes,  not  always 
with  sadness.     I  have  no  desiie  to  see  it.     It  would  be  time  lost 


EsPERAIfZA.  221 

and  life  wasted.  I  may  join  a  little  party  to  go  to  Europe  to  see 
the  world  of  art,  there  ;  pictures,  statuary  and  music  ;  but  that  is 
all.  We  shall  not  be  long  absent ;  and  the  joy  ol  our  return  may 
repay  us  a  little  for  the  deprivation." 

"Will  Mr.  Vincent  go  ?  " 

"  Scarcely.  Melodia  may,  and  Angelo,  and  Evaline.  My  father 
and  mother  would  not  wish  to  be  separated — and  our  home  could 
not  well  spare  them  both.  It  will  be  hard  for  any  of  us  to  leave. 
Perhaps  we  shall  not  go ;  but  we  dream  and  talk  about  it  some- 
times." 

"  Now,  Angela,  I  am  going  to  ask  you  a  question.  You  need 
not  answer  it  unless  you  wish.  If  you  were  obliged  to  choose 
only  one  person,  of  all  here,  to  be  with,  and  give  your  life  to,  who 
would  that  one  be  ?  " 

"  My  mother,  always  !  " 

"Not your  father?" 

"No — it  is  my  mother  ;  for  though  I  may  love  my  father  most, 
or  best,  or  however  it  is  compared ;  I  should  best  satisfy  all  my 
loves,  even  my  love  for  him,  and  my  sense  of  right,  by  going  with 
her.  Thank  God,  their  is  no  such  alternative  !  No,  Mr,  Frank, 
no  child  here  is  obliged  to  choose  between  father  and  mother,  or 
between  parents  and  husbands.  Our  family  cannot  be  broken  up 
and  scattered,  like  the  families  of  civilization,  where  parents  and 
children,  brothers  and  sisters  are  separated  by  the  marriage  system 
and  the  isolate  household.  Did  you  ever  think  what  a  tragedy  of 
suffering  it  is?  " 

"  No,  it  is  one  to  which  custom  reconciles  us." 

"Yes,  like  burning  Hindoo  widows,  or  christian  heretics.  Our 
family  is  sacred — sacred  and  imperishable.  All  its  members  are 
folded  in  its  loving  arms.  The  mind  thinks,  the  heart  loves,  the 
hands  work  for  all,  and  now  I  must  go  to  my  work  too.  Have 
you  found  out  what  you  wanted  ?" 

Kissing  her  hand  to  me,  she  ran  away  toward  the  studio,  where 
was  her  next  labor. 

Beautiful  Angela  !  what  a  treasure  of  rich,  pure,  loving  life  ! 
She  is  one  of  many  here  ;  but  I  could  not  help  thinking  that  even 


2^2  EsPERANZA. 

this  one  ■would  shed  a  radiance  over  this  existence.  I  sat  and 
thought  of  her  life,  her  loves,  her  beautiful  physical,  mental  and 
artistic  development,  and  her  relations  to  all  here,  till  it  seemed 
that  no  body  in  the  world  could  be  so  fortunate  and  happy.  Yet 
every  one  in  Esperanza,  in  proportion  to  his  capacity  for  employ- 
ment, must  be  just  as  fortunate,  and  just  as  blessed. 

Last  night,  I  danced.  We  know  very  little  of  the  pleasure  of 
this  harmonic  exercise.  You  and  I,  when  we  have  shut  out  others 
from  our  thoughts,  have  danced  beautiful  duets.  But  here  we 
dance  full  harmonies.  It  is  not  only  two  lives  that  mingle,  but 
many — many  hearts  and  lives.  It  was  a  magnetism  that  entranced 
and  up  bore  me.  I  seemed  to  tread  on  air.  I  moved  to  the  glow- 
ing cadence  of  the  grand  music  without  an  eflFort.  It  was  like 
swiming  in  a  sea  of  pure  extacy.  With  the  music  still  vibrating 
in  my  ears ;  still  floating  in  the  measures  of  the  intertwining 
movement ;  stUI  feeling  the  pressure  of  friendly  hands,  and  warm 
beating  hearts,  I  slept.  May  you,  my  beloved  one,  sleep  ever  as 
happily. 


XV. 

IMMORTALITV. 

Darling  :  My  peaceful  slumbers  were  broken,  as  broke  the  light 
of  a  new  day,  by  the  distant  note  of  Vincent's  bugle.  It  mingled 
with  my  dreams ;  then  I  woke  to  the  consciousness  of  the  happy 
life  around  me  ;  then  came  the  inspiring  aii,  chased  by  the  echoes 
of  forest  and  mountain,  nearer  and  nearer.  It  was  repeated  at 
intervals,  until  its  full  burst  resounded  on  the  lawn,  and  a  moment 
after,  it  was  joined  by  the  band  of  instruments,  in  an  awakening 
and  inspiring  harmony. 

I  thought  at  first  that  the  seeming  distance  of  these  sounds  had 
been  the  artistic  effects  of  a  skilful  player ;  but  I  found  that  our 
yigilant  chief  had  mounted  his  horse  in  the  first  dawn  and  taken  a 
gallop  over  the  domain  ;  and  that  his  bugle  call  had  been  sounded 
at  intervals  in  his  rapid  approach  to  where  the  band  stood  ready  to 
join  him. 

The  morning  parade  has  every  day  some  fresh  interest.  A 
magnetic  life  is  diffused  through  the  whole  society.  In  the  music 
all  are  attuned.  Discords  vanish.  The  individual  becomes  so 
sweetly  harmonized  with  the  will  of  the  body  that  all  move  as  by 
one  impulse  of  the  pervading  life,  and  find  in  that  harmony  the 
greate.st  happiness. 

Never  has  the  solitary,  isolate  life  of  the  selfish  individualist 
seemed  so  poor  and  mean,  as  it  now  appears  to  me.  That  longing 
of  the  soul  for  love,  for  sympathy,  for  unity,  never  wholly,  and 
seldom  at  all,  satisfied  in  our  life,  can  only  find  its  perfect  satisfac- 
tion in  the  h=\rmony  of  such  a  life  as  this. 

When  I  entered  the  saloon  of  the  morning  lecture,  I  saw  Melo- 
dia  seated  in  the  center  of  the  p}atform,  and  on  either  side  Vince 

223 


i'ii  EsPKRANZA. 

and  Harinonia.  Vincent  was  calm,  Harmonia  pale  and  soirowim. 
Melodia  rose  and  stood  silent  a  moment ;  and  her  upraised  eyes 
filled  with  tears.  Tears  came  i:i  my  own,  though  1  knew  not  why. 
But  soon  a  sweet  smile  and  a  slight  flush  came  over  her  face,  and 
in  her  low  sweet  tones  she  said : 

"Dear  Friends,  what  I  have  to  s^y  to  you  will  sadden  us  for  a 
moment ;  but  there  will  come  with  it,  also,  a  deep  joy. 

"  Our  good  Father  is  soon  to  leave  us,  to  join  the  noble  and 
beautiful  society  of  the  heavenly  life.  Our  dear  Harmonia  has 
been  with  him  in  the  night  watches ;  the  spirits  who  watch  over 
us  have  announced  to  him  his  speedy  welcoming  to  the  life  of  the 
heavens.  He  goes  to  join  in  higher  aocords  of  liarmony  ;  but  he 
will  still  be  with  us  and  watch  over  us  ;  and  he  will  be  able  to  be 
more  to  us,  and  do  more  for  the  great  work  of  the  redemption  and 
harmonization  of  humanity  than  he  can  do  here. 

"  Joyfully  does  he  welcome  the  summons.  He  feels  that  his  great 
love  for  all  his  children  here  will  find  a  freer  and  better  expres- 
sion from  the  spirit  spheres  than  it  can  from  this.  He  wishes  rao 
to  say,  that  before  he  leaves  the  bodily  form,  he  hopes  to  see  and 
greet  you  all.  His  strong,  brave,  generous  spirit  prepares  to  lay 
ofi"  the  outer  form  of  the  earth  life,  as  he  would  lay  ofi"  a  garment 
he  needs  no  longer.  His  work  is  done.  He  is  ready  to  enter  with 
joy  upon  a  new  and  higher  form  of  existence,  to  which,  when  a 
few  years  are  past,  he  will  welcome  all  of  us,  his  children. 

"  I,  who  have  known  him  longest,  and  to  whom  he  has  been 
more  than  a  father  ;  I  yield  him  cheerfully  to  the  joys  of  the  inner 
life;  assured  that  while  his  external  form  seeks  new  unities  in  pro- 
gression, his  noble  spirit,  his  best  self,  will  be  ever  with  us,  loving, 
inspiring,  and  strengthening  us. 

"When  the  large  bell  of  the  tower,  at  whatever  hour  of  day  or 
night,  shall  strike  nine  strokes,  it  will  be  to  summon  us  all  to  as- 
semble here,  to  receive  his  parting  benediction.  Let  us  lay  aside 
all  selfish  grief,  and  be  prepared  to  bid  him  farewell  as  joyfully  as 
the  radiant  ones  will  bid  him  wtdcome." 

She  was  smiling  through  her  tears.  Harmonia  took  Vincent's 
fliUi,  while  Melodia  supported   her   on  the   other  side;  and  they 


ESPICRANZA.  225 

breakfasted  together — but  all  the  rest  coaversed  cheerfully,  thoagh 
in  lower  tones  than  usuil.  There  was  also  a  nim-e  perfect  order  of 
movement,  and  a  greater  earnestness  visible ;  but  no  depressing 
grief.  Faith  in  immortality  is  no  pretense  here,  but  a  very  real 
and  sustaining  assurance. 

An  hour  later,  when  1  returned  from  a  sail  across  the  lake,  what 
was  my  surprise  to  see  the  good  Father  sitting  in  his  easy  chair, 
under  the  trees,  with  sunshine  and  flowers  around  him,  enjoying 
the  songs  of  the  birds,  and  the  beauties  of  nature.  Harmonia  held 
his  hand,  and  Angela  brought  him  the  most  odorous  flowers.  He 
saw  my  surprised  look,  and  held  out  his  hand  to  me.  It  trembled 
more  than  usual,  and  his  face  was  more  pallid.  But  there  was 
hope  and  happiness  in  his  blue  eyes;  and  his  voice,  though  a  little 
fainter,  was  as  cheerful  as  ever. 

"  Boil  jour,  monfils  .f*  he  said,  as  he  grasped  my  hand,  "  you 
expected  to  see  t'le  old  man  on  his  back.  Oh,  no  !  I  prefer  this. 
They  are  very  good  to  me,  and  let  me  have  my  own  way  in  every 
thing — my  good  children  !" 

"  I  hope  you  will  recover,  and  enjoy  their  society  many  years," 
I  said. 

"  Don't  think  it,  or  wish  it.  A  few  days  at  the  most  is  all  I 
have  to  stay  now ;  and  you  are  traveler  enough  to  know  that  when 
one  has  made  up  his  mind  to  go  he  does  not  wish  to  be  delayed. 
I  am  satisfied  and  happy.  All  I  have  wished  and  worked  for  in  life  is 
accomplished,  or  will  be,  and  I  am  content  to  go.  You  will  j  )in 
our  family,  and  find  here  all  that  your  mind  and  heart  can  ask.  Is 
it  not  so,  majille?"  he  asked,  turning  to  Harmonia. 

"  Yes,  Father.  You  have  henceforth  other  duties  and  other 
joys.  We  are  to  increase,  and  you,  with  greater  powers  of  vision 
and  locomotion,  can  aid  us.  The  little  scattered  groups,  who  are 
earnestly  working  in  the  orderly  preparation  for  a  harmonic  life, 
may  soon  begin  to  join  us,  and  enjoy  its  realization.  You,  father, 
will  influence,  guide,  direct,  and  welcome  them  to  the  home  you 
have  chosen  for  them.  Then,  out  of  this,  other  homes  are  to  be 
born,  and  you,  who  found  this  domain,  will  perform  the  same  func- 
tion in  respect  to  others,  and  aid  our  spirit  guardians  in  watching 


226  K-JI-'KUA.NZA. 

over  the  infant  societies.  So  shall  this  new,  harmonic  man,  increase, 
multiply,  and  replenish  the  earth." 

The  old  man's  eyes  sparkled  with  joy;  then  he  raised  them 
reverenily  to  heaven,  and  said  iu  a  low,  soft  murmer : 

"  Que  voire  velonte  soit  faite sur  la  terre  comme  au  del :"  with  this 
sentence  from  the  Lord's  Prayer,  in  his  sweet  mother  tongue,  the 
old  man  closed  his  eyes,  and  there  spread  over  his  countenance  an 
expression  of  ineffable  rest  and  peace  ;  and,  supported  by  the  soft 
cushions,  he  fell  into  a  slumber,  as  of  infancy. 

Vincent  has  managed  for  several  days  to  give  me,  daily,  an  hour 
for  conversation.  In  these  hours  he  has  listened  to  my  doubts 
with  entire  patience ;  lie  has  answered  all  my  questions,  and 
thrown  light  on  many  subjects  connected  with  the  progress  and 
destiny  of  cur  race.  With  very  little  of  personal  ambition  or  van- 
ity ;  with  strong  faculties  of  analysis  and  synthesis  ;  with  a  na- 
ture full  of  philanthropy  and  love,  he  has  done  his  work  of  enlight- 
enment, organization,  and  direction  with  so  much  fidelity,  as  to 
vindicate  the  wisdom  which  selected  him  for  this  work.  That 
wisdom,  dear  Clara,  I  need  not  now  tell  you,  I  believe  to  be  super- 
nal. And  he  has  had  ever  at  his  side,  and  in  his  deepest  love, 
one  who  has  stood  between  him  and  the  angel  life,  and  who  has 
been  to  him  the  medium  of  its  inspirations. 

To-day  we  took  horses  and  rode  over  every  part  of  this  domain, 
which  is  like  the  most  beautiful  garden,  with  groves,  and  shaded 
avenues,  and  lovely  prospects,  and  pretty  pavilions  for  rest  and 
shade,  scattered  over  it.  I  cannot  write  you  all  our  conversation  ; 
but  I  will  put  down  the  most  important  portion,  both  for  you,  and 
because  I  wish  to  record  it  while  fresh  in  my  memory. 

"  In  what  respect,"  I  asked,  "does  your  system  differ  from 
that  of  Fourier  ?" 

"It  differs  not  so  much  in  principles  and  ends,"  he  said,  "as  in 
means.  Fourier  saw  the  possibility  of  harmony,  and  believed 
that  nothincr  was  needed  for  its  realization,  but  to  brinof  a  certain 
number  of  men  and  women  toofether,  under  certain  conditions. 
There  is  no  experimental  proof  that  he  was  not  right — that  is, 
that  with  means,  and  power,  and  science,  and  skill,  men  might  not  be 


EsPERANZA.  227 

harmonized  en  masse.  But  where  is  the  means  or  power  to  do  this  ? 
Our  system  is  that  of  growth,  from  the  minutest  germ  to  the 
mighty  tree.  And  the  preparation  for  germinal  growth  was  in- 
dividual development  and  harmonization.  Fourier  would  have 
collected  a  thousand  persons,  in  two  or  three  years,  in  a  phalans- 
terie.  I  believe  that  there  could  not  be  selected  one  thousand  per- 
sons in  all  civilized  society,  who  could  have  formed  such  an  associa- 
tion, or  who  could  have  been  held  together  against  their  own  repul- 
sions except  by  some  stringent  despotism,  without  a  previous 
preparation. 

"  We  differ  from  the  theory  of  Fourier,  also,  in  not  paying  trib- 
ute to  capital,  and  in  giving  less  of  external  or  pecuniary  reward 
to  talent  or  genius.  These  with  us  have  their  reward  spiritually, 
and  to  a  certain  excent  the  material  correspondent.  We  are  some- 
what more  communistic  than  he  proposed,  while  we  guard,  I  think, 
better  than  he  provided  for,  the  special  rights  of  the  individual." 
"  Are  you  then  nearer  to  the  system  of  Owen  ?" 
"  No :  we  reject  a  democratic  communism  as  having  no  guaran- 
ties, either  of  order  or  individuality.  A  society  is  not  a  mere 
aggregation  or  agglomeration  of  individuals  ;  but  a  regular  organi- 
zation. It  is  a  body  which  has  its  head  and  its  heart ;  its  nervous 
centers  and  circulation  ;  its  organs  and  members  all  united  to- 
gether, and  constituting  a  united  and  harmonious  body.  Physi- 
ology gives  us  the  highest  type  of  a  true  society.  Vegetable 
physiology  approximates  it,  and,  being  more  simple,  is  more  easily 
understood." 

"  Have  you  examined  the  system  of  Monsieur  Cabet  ?" 
"  Yes.  I  wrote  to  him  at  Nauvoo,  and  he  sent  me  his  Voyage  en 
Icarie,  a  magnificent  dream  of  a  National  Democratic  Commun- 
ism, in  which  the  government,  that  is,  the  central  expression  of  the 
popular  will,  performs  all  functions,  and  provides  for  all  wants,  in 
a  large  country,  witlv  great  cities,  wealth  and  splendor.  Men  see 
something  of  the  life  of  the  future,  but  not  the  means  to  attain  it. 
Hence  all  have  failed. 

"  Yet  the  means  are  so  simple,  and  so  in  accordance  with  all  the 
operations  of  nature  !     If  any  merit  has  been  mine,  it  has  been  in 


228  EtPKRANZA. 

seeing  this  ;  but  I  can  claim  none,  for  it  has  been  revealed  to  me, 
I  have  accepted  and  rendered  practical,  what  Fourier  himself  has 
revealed  to  me  from  the  life  of  the  heavens." 

"And  this  method  —  was  it  readily  accepted  by  those  whose 
first  impulse  would  probably  be  to  denounce  eveiy  thiny  which 
seemed  to  ii.em  like  a  despotism  ?  " 

"It  was  sometimes  misundei'Stood ;  but  the.  rejection  of  our 
I'  ethod,  for  this  reason,  served  to  separate  and  keep  from  us  those 
disorderly  persons  who  would  have  perilled  our  success. 

"We  tauglit  that  while  freedom  was  a  condition  of  a  true  life 
of  harmony,  an  orderly  obedience  was  its  most  vital  necessity. 
We  demanded  obedience,  not  to  us  as  individuals,  but  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  life.  The  lesion  ever  impressed  upon  us  was  tliat 
there  must  be  obedience,  else  there  cannot  be  growth.  In  the  tree, 
every  atom  assimilated  must  obey  the  life  of  the  tree  ;  in  the 
human  body,  every  organ  and  every  atom  must  alike  obey  the  law 
of  life  and  its  requirements.  The  strength  of  the  heart  and  the 
wisdom  of  the  head  can  only  be  demonstrated  by  perfect  obedience. 
It  is  not  by  erratic  action  that  the  one  gets  power  and  the  other 
light.  The  heart  and  head  of  a  man  and  of  a  society  must  be 
corrected  by  consequences  wrought  out  in  obedience,  and  not  by 
disordered  acts  and  efforts.  Obedience  is  for  a  body  and  a  society  ; 
and  consequences  are  the  only  corrections.  If  there  cannot  be  a 
perfect  and  orderly  obedience,  then  there  is  not  unity  ;  and  the  part 
that  is  extraneous  or  parasitic  is  to  be  cut  off.  And  many  Vi^ere 
severed  from  us." 

"  Allow  me  to  ask  how  you  were  able  to  satisfy  people  full  of 
protests  against  social  tyrannies,  of  the  truth  of  these  principles  ?  " 

Vincent  smiled  as  he  answered — "  Their  acceptance  was  not 
so  hard  as  you  think.  Most  received  them  intuitively  and  lovingly. 
The  Avise  saw  their  truth  and  necessity.  When  it  was  proper  to 
make  explanations,  there  was  no  lack  of  analogical  illustration. 

"  1  pointed  to  the  director  of  an  orchestra,  whose  function  is  to 
guide  every  movement,  and  to  become  the  central  thought  and  viJl 
of  a  body  of  musicians,  where  the  most  perfect  and  accurate  obe- 
dience to  the  directing  power  is  at  once  the  greatest  happiness  of 


ESPERANZA.  229 

each  performer,  and  the  necessity  of  the  pei-formance.  I  showed 
that  the  least  erratic  individualism  here,  vvould  not  only  mar  the 
general  harmony,  but  desti'oy  the  happiness  of  the  indivi  lual.  So 
in  architec  ure,  every  workman  must  work  to  the  line  of  his  speci- 
fications, and  the  direction*^  of  the  architect  and  master  builder,  or 
mar  the  work,  and  his  own  delight  in  doing  it.  Every  combined 
movement  involves  the  same  principle  ;  and  that  whicli  is  best  for 
all,  must  always  be  best  for  each.  Call  this  order,  tyranny,  des- 
potism—  tvhat  you  will — it  is  the  absolute  necessity  of  every  har- 
monic movement,  from  the  systems  of  the  universe  down  to  the 
smallest  plant  that  grows. 

"  Tlie  conservative  sentiment  for  the  preservation  of  order  is  a  true 
human  instinct;  but  the  order  usually  conserved  is  v  ry  false  and 
costly.  The  true  order,  which  is  heaven's  first  law,  never  de- 
mands the  sacrifice  of  the  highest  freedom  and  happiness  of  the 
individual,  but  secures  both.  The  first  qualifica'ion  for  our  life  is 
a  tru  '  humility  ;  our  first  duty  is  a  true  obedience  :  our  first  re- 
quirement a  true  order  ;  and  these  se^^ure  to  us  all  the  freedom  and 
all  the  happiness  you  see  us  enjoyinGf." 

Vincent  spoke  a  single  word  to  his  beautiful  horse,  and  he 
bounded  awav  toward  a  distant  group  of  workers,  whose  labors 
he  joined  ;  while  I  rode  slowlv  h  me,  revolving  all  this  in  mv  mind. 

T  will  not  conceal  that  the  words  humility,  obedience,  order,  have 
a  harsh  sound  to  me.  Humility  has  seemed  a  disease  or  a  sham. 
Obedience  has  been  the  requirement  of  despotism.  Order  is  the  ex- 
cuse of  tyrants.  And  yet  T  can  see  that  throughout  the  universe  there 
must  be  the  humility  which  recognizes  and  strives  to  attain  to  the 
higher  or  more  advanced  perfection.  The  'rue  scholar,  artist,  or 
poet  must  be  a  humble  worker  toward  his  ideal  ;  anrl  the  grea'est 
men  have  ha  i  most  of  the  virtue  of  humility.  Away  with  vain 
piide.  It  is  the  sign  of  a  little,  mean,  and  sordid  spirit.  I  see,  too, 
that  obedience  to  laws  and  principles  pervades  all  nature — every 
plant  and  animal  living-  in  obedience  to  the  law  of  its  life  ;  a'oms 
and  systoms  obeying  the  requirements  of  univers.il  and  eternal 
laws.  Shall  I  be  less  obedient  to  the  law  of  my  own  life?  to  the 
requirements   of    my    phy>ical    organization,  my    moral   nature, 


230  ESPERANZA. 

and  my  conscience  or  highest  sense  of  right  ?  Surely  not,  dear 
Clara  ;  and  I  accepl  the  principle  of  obedience.  And  order  :  it  is 
a  sublime  ideal.  It  is  the  basis  of  all  harmony.  In  architecture, 
in  music,  in  all  that  man  has  worthily  achieved,  it  is  the  prime 
element.  It  presides  over  the  formation  of  snow-flake  and  crystal ; 
it  is  the  governing  principle  of  the  Infinite  series  of  worlds.  t:hall 
it  be  less  the  controling  element  of  the  human  soul,  and  of  human 
society  ?     So  I  accept  them  all.     May  I  live  to  them  as  I  wish  ! 


As  I  looked  round  upon  the  dinner  groups  of  the  great  dining 
saloon,  I  could  detect  no  sign  of  sorrow.  Beautiful  as  is  tiie  life 
here,  the  life  liereafter  is  seen  and  felt  to  be  so  much  more  beau- 
tiful, that  the  change  has  no  terrors  and  no  regrets.  I  think  there 
was  less  conversation  than  usual,  but  it  was  light  and  cheerful. 
The  old  man  had  his  chair  wheeled  out  upon  the  balcony  and  en- 
joyed the  after  dinner  music.  He  beat  time  with  his  fingers,  and 
looked  round  upon  the  groups  of  his  children,  and  up  to  the  serene 
heavens  with  a  countenance  full  of  a  calm  joy.  Melodia  sat  near 
him,  and  they  talked  at  intervals.  He  was  giving  her  his  last 
thoughts  and  messages,  as  a  friend  who  is  going  on  a  journey 
leaves  his  directions,  and  then  promises  to  write. 

You  shall  enjoy  with  me,  some  of  these  briglit  days,  the  luxury 
of  this  musical  after-dinner  hour;  almost  the  only  one  in  which 
all  indulge  in  the  dolcc  far  niente.  The  necessary  labors  of  the  day 
are  over.  Cares  there  are  none — no  cares  nor  sorrow's,  except  for 
the  outside  world,  and  the  friends  t'lat  m^ny  have  left  behind  them  ; 
and  for  these  there,  is  the  hope  of  their  sometime  coming,  when 
their  bonds  shall  fall  off,  or  be  broken  asunder. 

Then  were  formed  groups  of  work,  or  study,  or  amusement, 
which  often  combines  both,  for  even  the  most  romantic  pic-nics  are 
made  scenes  of  industry  or  of  study.  A  group  of  artists  goes  to 
the  woods  to  sketch,  and  the  afternoon's  pleasure  is  an  addition  to 
the  stock  of  beauty  and  riches.  The  out-door  conversations  are 
full  of  intellectual  life.  Children  make  groups  around  the  wise  or 
imaginative,  or  people  with  good  memories.  Finally,  there  is  no 
lack  of  books. 


ESPERANZA.  231 

I  sat  in  one  of  these  groups,  to  which  I  had  been  invited,  on 
coming  near,  and  felt  the  calm  flow  of  this  restful  life.  It  was  a 
fraternal  group  of  happy  men,  women  and  children,  lying  on  the 
s-weet  grass  under  the  shade  of  a  broad  spreading  tree,  discussino- 
the  future  glories  of  the  destiny  of  man,  when  this  harmony  shall 
have  spread  over  all  his  heritage. 

"  It  will  not  require  so  long  as  you  think,"  said  one.  "  Let  but 
the  most  advanced  minds  now  in  the  world  have  the  assurance 
which  our  success  must  give  them,  and  they  will  enter  with  joy 
and  enthusiasm  upon  the  needed  preparation  for  our  life.  There 
must  be  hundreds,  yes,  thousands,  scattered  over  civilization,  now 
ready  and  longing  for  an  exodus  out  of  it.  If  we  could  but  re- 
ceive them  here,  the  teaching,  example  and  influence  of  our  life 
would  bring  them  into  harmony.  In  two  years  we  mi^ht  form 
other  associations,  and  so  on  in  geometrical  progression." 

"  Fair  and  softly,  my  dear,"  said  a  wise  and  gentle  matron,  who 
might  have  been  his  mother,  but  was  not.  "  You  have  had  but 
little  experience  of  the  life  of  the  world,  and  know  not  the  streno-th 
of  its  bonds.  You  do  not  understand  how  men  are  bound  to  their 
wives  and  families ;  and  wives  to  their  husbands  and  children. 
The  church,  society,  business  entanglements,  debts,  relatives,  de- 
pendents, all  these  enslave  vast  numbers.  So  do  all  the  common 
habits  of  hfe." 

"  But  the  young,  the  unmarried,  and  those  not  yet  embarked  ou 
this  dull  and  troublesome  voyage,"  said  he. 

"  The  young  have  their  duties,  attachments  and  ambitions.  The 
life  of  business  and  society  is  attractive  to  the  young.  They  are 
full  of  hope,  and  do  not  see  its  cares  and  slaveries.  Then  there 
is  much  lack  of  courage  in  the  young.  I  have  known  a  college  of 
hundreds  of  young  men  and  women,  as  good  as  the  average  surely, 
held  in  the  most  abject  subjection  to  the  bigotries  of  two  or  three 
professors.  It  is  a  world  of  flunkies,  my  friend,  with  very  little  of 
genuine  independence." 

"  But,  if  people  are  cowards,  are  they  to  be  blamed  for  not 
having  courage  ?  "  asked  one  of  the  children. 

"No,  dear  ;  they  are  to  be  pitied.     Cowards  make  despots,  and 


232  ESPERANZA. 

despots  confirm  people  in  their  habits  of  cowardice.  It  is  a  circle 
of  error  ;  and  evils  tend  continuHlly  to  reproduce  themselves.  Out 
of  this  sljugli  of  despond  strong  spirits  I'ise,  and  inspire  others 
with  courage.  They  unite  for  strength  ;  they  come  into  orderly 
movement,  and  soon  achieve  the  conditions  of  a  noble  life." 

"  But  to  me,"  I  ventured  to  say,  "  it  seems  that  so  much  de- 
pends upon  conditions.  For  example,  a  tree  on  a  high  mountain, 
or  in  a  high  northern  latitude,  or  where  there  is  a  scantiness  of 
soil  or  moisture,  attains  but  to  a  meao-re  o-rowth.  In  Shetland,  the 
horse  dwarfs  to  a  pony.  Men  require  conditions  for  developn;ent. 
Here  it  is  so  easy  to  be  good,  brave,  noble,  heroic.  Here  all  con- 
ditions favor  the  development  of  a  true  life,  and  true  and  beautiful 
relations  ;  but  in  the  world  it  is  very  different.  A\\  conditions  and 
influences  are  false  and  evil." 

"  True  ;  but  you  do  not  consider  the  sublime  fact  that  man  is  a 
condition  maher.  He  alone,  of  all  beings,  has  the  power  of  mak- 
ing his  own  conditions,  and  therein  is  the  possibility  of  his  des- 
tiny. The  acorn  must  germinate  where  it  is  buried  ;  the  tree  must 
grow  where  it  is  planted;  but  man,  with  his  powers  of  locomotion, 
can  choose  climate,  soil,  food,  and  make  for  himself  the  conditions 
he  requires,  whenever  he  has  the  wisdom  to  know  his  needs." 

I  am  surprised  every  day  by  the  intelligence  of  the  youngest  and 
humblest  members  of  this  family.  The  facts  and  principles  of 
universal  science,  but  imperfectly  known  to  our  learned  professors, 
and  which  they  so  often  boggle  over,  are  familiar  to  little  children 
here  ;  because  they  are  common  subjects  of  conversation.  The 
intellectu:il  light  kindles  and  blazes  hero,  from  the  proximity  and 
harmony  of  so  many  minds  ;  and  the  awakening  and  culture  of  all 
faculties. 

The  other  day  a  group  of  children,  tired  of  some  active  work, 
gathered  round  Vincent  and  asked  him  for  a  story.  He  sa*'  down 
on  the  grass  and  they  sat  near  him,  two  of  the  youngest  laying 
their  heads  in  his  lap  and  looking  up  into  his  face. 

He  plucked  a  flower,  and  looked  at  it  a  moment — then  began  : 

"Once  upon  a  time  the  soul  of  a  plant  found  itself  fl}'ing 
through  the  air." 


EsPERANZA.  233 

"Had  it  wings  ?  "  asked  a  little  oue. 
"Perhaps  it  was  iu  a  balloon,"  suggested  another. 
"  Souls  are  not  very  heav^y,"  said  Vincent,  "  but  this  one  had  its 
luofffaofe  to  carry  with  it." 

Do     O  */ 

"A  soul  with  luggage  !" 

"  Yes,  provisions,  clothing,  and  other  little  necessary  articles  such 
as  souls  must  have  in  this  world ;  and  these  were  all  packed  away 
very  safely  in  a  nice  little  case,  large  enough  for  the  plant  soul,  and 
all  its  goods  and  furniture." 

'•Oh  1  but  tell  us  what  it  had  to  eat." 

"Yes;  that  interests  you.  You  little  folks  are  very  fond  of 
your  victuals." 

"  Of  course ;  because  it  is  of  our  food  that  our  souls  are  form- 
ing our  bodies;"  said  one  of  the  older  children. 

"  You  be  quiet  with  your  little  wisdom,"  said  Vincent,  smiling, 
"it  is  not  your  soul  that  is  now  in  question,  but  the  soul  of  a  plant. 

"  In  this  little  case  was  carefully  packed  starch,  sugar,  oil,  and 
some  very  fine  matter,  to  manufacture  into  vessels  and  utensils. 
Plant  souls  are  very  carefully  provided  for.  And  this  little  car- 
riage was  flying  through  the  air,  upheld  by  wide-spreading  silken 
wings,  and  borne  along  by  the  winds.  It  went  high  over  trees  and 
houses,  in  the  currents  of  the  atmosphere ;  then  came  a  calm,  and 
it  settled  down  slowly  to  the  ground,  and  fell  in  a  moist,  warm  place, 
in  a  little  crevice  of  the  earth,  and  there  it  lay,  all  dark  and  still. 

"  So  the  plant  soul  rested  awhile  ;  but  no  soul  is  satisfied  to  be 
idle  long  ;  and  as  the  warmth  of  the  sunshine,  and  the  sweet  mois- 
ture of  the  dew  began  to  come  through  the  little  windows  of  the 
soul's  dwelling,  it  said,  'come,  I  must  be  at  work.  This  idleness 
will  never  answer.  I  have  a  destiny  to  achieve,  and  I  must  be 
about  it." 

"So  it  went  to  work,"  said  one  of  the  little  interrupters." 

"  Yes,  indeed.  It  was  all  alive  and  busy,  making  vessels,  and 
preparing  to  expand  itself.  But  it  had  so  little  room.  '  This  will 
never  do,'  said  the  soul,  '  I  must  get  out  of  this,  if  I  burst  it  open  ; ' 
and  as  the  shell  grew  soft  and  swelled  out  with  the  expanding  soul, 
pretty  soon  it  really  burst  open,  and  the  little  soul  was  free. 
20 


254  EsrEKANZA. 

"How  warm  the  sunshine  was,  how  sweet  the  dew,  and  how 
pleasant  the  showers.  'Now  I  must  grow,'  said  the  soul.  *  I  must 
expand  into  all  the  use  and  beauty  I  am  capable  of.  I  am  deter- 
mined to  be  the  largest,  finest,  and  best  that  is.  possible  to  be. 
Let's  see  what  I  must  do.'  " 

"  Yes,  I  should  like  to  know  what  a  plant  soul  would  find  to 
do  for  itself,"  said  a  very  young  philosopher. 

"  *  It  will  be  a  dry  time  soon,  and  I  shall  want  plenty  of  water,* 
it  said,  '  so  I  must  sink  some  pumps  into  the  ground  to  suck  it  up.* 
So  it  began  to  make  little  fibrous  roots,  and  push  them  down  into 
the  earth.  'And  I  must  have  more  air  and  sunshine,'  it  said,  and 
it  began  to  build  up  a  little  tiny  stalk,  up  into  the  light  of  day. 

"But  then  its  stock  of  food  and  materials  was  almost  exhausted. 
'  This  will  never  do,'  said  the  soul.  '  I  must  have  food  and  matter 
to  WQrk  with.  Let  us  see  what  we  can  find.*  It  pumped  up  some 
water  and  examined  it,  and  found  some  atoms  of  lime,  and  silica,  and 
potash,  and  some  old  matter  which  other  plant  souls  had  no  longer 
any  use  for.  '  This  will  do  very  well  so  far,'  it  said,  'now  let  us 
see  what  we  can  find  up  in  the  light  here.  Oh  !  here  is  a  plenty  of 
good  things.  Carbon,  and  oxygen,  and  nitrogen,  all  in  the  atmos- 
phere, and  electricity,  to  work  with,  and  a  perfect  shower  of  ener- 
gising sunshine.  What  a  rich  and  beautiful  world  it  is  for  a  little 
plant  soul  to  expand  and  mature  itself,  and  do  its  work  in  1' 

"  So  the  plant  soul  piimped  up  the  water,  and  strained  out  all  its 
solid  matters  to  build  with  ;  and  it  made  leaves  with  thousands  of 
little  cells  to  catch  the  carbon  and  oxygen,  and  nitrogen  in  from 
the  air,  and  it  inspired  electricity,  and  drank  in  the  sunshine,  and 
worked  away  like  a  little  bee,  building  its  stalk  larger,  and  its  roots 
deeper,  and  making  more  leaves,  until  it  had  got  a  body  large 
enough  for  its  soul,  and  just  as  beautiful  as  it  could  make  it." 

"And  then  it  rested,  and  had  a  good  time,"  said  one  of  the 
most  tired  of  the  little  workers. 

"  Souls  never  rest  long,  and  our  little  plant  soul  had  now  ano- 
ther work  to  do.  It  was  to  provide  for  a  progeny  of  little  plant 
souls,  make  their  little  cases,  and  provide  them  with  just  such  a 
supply  of  food  and  materials  as  it  had  itself  to  begin  the  world 


EsPEitA:>ZA.  235 

with.  So  it  sat  to  work  with  a  new  energy  ani. delight;  and  made 
such  a  nice,  cosy  little  nast  or  dwelling,  then  set  it  all  round  with 
delicate  leaves  of  bright  colours,  and  gathered  fragrant  aromas  from 
the  atmosphere,  and  made  up  a  stock  of  honey  from  the  sweetest 
dews,  and  with  much  love  and  care,  brought  forth  and  nourished  a 
whole  family  of  little  young  plant  souls,  that  the  earth  might  con- 
tinue to  be  beautiful,  and  the  race  never  be  lost.  And  in  this  last 
work  was  its  chief  glory  and  delight;  and  on  it  the  plant  soul 
expended  all  its  powers  ;  and  then  it  was  satisfied  and  content.  Its 
work  was  done.  Henceforth  it  was  to  live  in  the  life  of  its  child- 
ren ;  or  in  the  higher  unities  of  the  soul  life  of  the  universe." 

You  cannot  think,  dear  Clara,  with  what  a  solemn  earnestness 
these  little  children  listened  to  this  little  story  of  the  life  of  the 
plants  and  flowers.  It  is  in  this  way  that  the  children  of  Esper- 
anza  are  educated.  The  whole  world  around  them,  every  plant 
and  flower,  is  full  of  life  and  wisdom. 


The  play  at  the  theater  last  evening  embodied  humorous  and 
ridiculous  illustrations  of  the  most  besetting  sins  of  our  life. 
Three  or  four  of  the  characters  were  personifications  of  pride,  van- 
ity, conceit,  intolerance,  petty  malignities,  gossippings,  careless- 
ness, bad  manners,  faults  of  speech,  and  queer  gaucheries.  I  have 
seldom  laughed  more  heartily.  There  was  comic  power,  both  fine 
and  broad,  among  the  actors  and  actresses,  and  they  played  with  a 
perfect  abandon,  while  the  audience,  down  to  the  smallest  children, 
enjoyed  it  even  more  than  I,  for  many  of  the  points  were  evidently 
personal  enough  to  have  for  them  a  greater  zest. 

It  seemed  to  me  that  the  performance  of  this  single  comedy 
three  or  four  times  a  year  would  do  more  to  correct  all  the  little 
faults  and  vices  of  any  society,  than  the  most  careful  and  continual 
didactic  teachings,  and  yet  the  serious  portion  of  the  plot  was  of 
absorbing  interest,  and  also  deoendant  upon  the  comic  develop- 
ment. The  use  of  the  stage,  as  a  school  of  manners  and  life,  was 
never  more  apparent  to  me  ;  and  all  its  capabilities  of  use  and  beauty 
will  be  developed  in  the  expansion  of  the  New  Social  Order.  When 
Esperanza   shall   number  its  two  thousand  souls,  its  Opera  and 


236  EsFERANZA. 

Drama  will  be  proportionally  expanded  ;  and  when  we  shall  have 
clusters  of  such  homes,  and  cities  of  Harmony,  the  grandeur  and 
beauty  of  Art  will  be  beyond  all  our  present  conceptions,  and  the 
scene  of  the  most  glorious  of  prophetic  idealizations. 

These  dramas  of  the  future  !  How  much  more  might  they  be 
to  society  than  those  of  the  past ! 

Is  it  not  time  that  we  let  the  dead  rest,  and  not  be  perpetually 
digging  up  its  mouldy  relics,  and  displaying  its  hideous  anatomies? 
It  belongs  to  poetry  to  penetrate  the  realm,  and  shadow  forth  the 
glories  of  the  future — and  why  not  of  dramatic  poetry?  All  art 
seems  to  me  the  expression  of  hope,  of  aspiration,  of  an  idealiza- 
tion which  looks  forward  into  the  future  of  our  destiny,  rather 
than  back  into  the  past.  I  would  have  the  world  look  onward  ;  for 
this  perpetual  relro^pection  cannot  but  hinder  progress.  And 
though  the  past,  seen  through  the  mists  of  time,  may  seem  gigan- 
tic and  heroic, — and  even  put  on  the  semblance  of  a  golden  age,  I 
would  still  look  for  the  grandeur  and  glory  of  a  true  life  in  the 
future,  which  it  is  the  province  of  all  high  art  to  reveal  to  us. 


Every  night  I  spend  the  last  lialf  hour  with  one  or  more  of  the 
dear  friends  who  are  most  in  the  life  of  my  heart ;  sometimes  with 
Melodia,  sometimes  with  Serafa,  or  Evaline,  or  Eugenia.  As  a  rare 
favor,  I  have  a  few  moments  before  retiring  to  rest  with  Harmonia, 
through  whom  the  angel  of  my  life,  my  sainted  and  adored 
mother,  comes  to  bless  me,  with  the  blessing  of  peace  in  all  the 
Present,  and  Hope  in  all  the  future. 


XVI. 

THE  LAST  FESTIVAL. 

We  have  much  to  do,  my  dear  Clara,  to  make  ourselves  fit  for,  and 
worthy  of,  the  happiness  of  this  life.  Perhaps  I  should  speak  for 
myself,  and  leave  you  out  of  the  question  ;  but,  however  ungallaat, 
I  must  believe  that  you  have  some  faults  to  correct,  as  well  as  I, 
who  have  so  many. 

My  habits  have  been  disorderly  and  erratic — they  must  become 
orderly  and  harmonious.  I  have  studied  and  worked  by  fits  and 
starts,  and  without  a  steady,  persevering  industry,  so  indispensable 
to  the  aocomplishment  of  any  object.  We  must  have  a  time  for 
every  work,  and  always  the  work  in  its  time  ;  a  place  for  every 
thing,  and  everything  in  its  place.  Every  faculty  must  have  its 
rights,  and  we  must  advance  in  the  achievement  of  all  our  possi- 
bilities, in  an  orderly  progression.     Is  it  not  so  ? 

Here,  order,  neatness  aad  beauty,  are  habitual.  I  have  not  seen, 
for  one  moment,  any  person  in  an  unsuitable  or  unbecoming  cos- 
tume. The  dress  is  suited  to  the  work.  There  is  no  where  the 
least  untidiness.  In  vain  may  you  look  through  halls,  rooms, 
saloons,  and  even  the  walks  and  lawns,  for  any  object  to  mar  the 
beauty  of  the  scene.  Dust,  dirt,  and  disorder  are  banished.  This 
care  has  become  so  habitual  that  it  is  not  in  the  least  a  burthen. 

There  is  a  special  group  of  cleanliness,  which  attends  to  the 
washing,  sweeping,  dusting,  and  general  care  of  the  halls  and 
saloons,  while  each  person  cares  for  his  own  apartment,  as  for  his 
own  person  and  clothing.  But  every  one  has  the  habit  of  neat- 
ness and  order,  keeping  every  article  in  its  place,  and  picking  up 
every  dead  leaf,  twig,  scrap  of  paper,  or  any  object  unpleasant  to 
the  sight. 

237 


23  O  £si'EHA>fZA. 

So  there  is  a  group  or  committee  of  temperature  and  ventilation, 
and  pure  air  and  agreeable  waimth  or  coolness  and  pleasant 
odors  are  assured  to  all.  These  groups,  like  those  of  decoration 
and  embellishment,  are  self-appointed  by  their  attractions  and  fit- 
ness for  these  functions.  And  all  the  cares  and  duties  of  the  home 
are  so  divided  among  those  whose  ambition  and  happiness  consists 
in  their  performance,  that  they  are  done  in  the  most  perfect  man- 
ner possible. 

As  1  spoke  of  these  practicalities  to  Alfred,  who,  trowel  in  hand, 
was  working  at  the  head  of  the  building  group,  on  the  addition  to 
the  edifice,  I  asked  him  whether  the  more  repugnant  functions 
were  readily  performed. 

"There  comes  in  here,"  he  replied,  "the  element  of  devotion. 
There  is,  in  our  best  members,  the  most  loving  and  the  wisest,  a 
strong  desire  to  do  every  thing  for  the  harmony.  You  may  have 
seen,  as  I  have,  an  accomplished  musician,  qualified  to  play  the 
first  violin,  or  direct  the  orchestra,  beating  a  bass  drum,  or  triangle, 
when  needed,  to  secure  the  perfection  of  a  musical  performance. 
So  here,  Harmonia  and  Melodia  are  oftenest  seen  engaging  in 
what  civilizees  would  call  the  most  menial  labors ;  and  Vincent 
and  Raphael  working  in  manures  or  ditches.  It  is  the  best  and 
bravest  soldier  who  volunteers  in  the  forlorn  hope.  He  who  is 
chief  among  you  shall  be  the  servant  of  all.  This  devotion  makes 
all  functions  honorable.  If  there  is  a  duty  more  toilsome,  repul- 
sive, irksome,  or  dangerous  than  usual,  it  is  sure  to  be  most  eagerly 
sought. 

"This  is  the  fact  wherever  exists  the  corporate  spirit.  Where 
is  the  post  of  honor  in  your  fire  department  in  New  York  ? 
Nearest  the  fire,  is  it  not,  where  the  toil  is  hardest,  and  the  danger 
greatest  ?   so  is  it  here. 

"  The  orderly,  faithful,  heroic  worker  here,  satisfies  the  most  of 
his  faculties,  and  enjoys  the  happiness  which  their  satisfaction 
gives.     We  work  from  justice,  benevolence,  pride,  ambiiion,  love. 

"  All  high  motives  here  tend  to  goodness.  Self-respect,  a  desire 
of  the  good  opinion  of  others,  friendship,  affection,  all  stimulate  to 
industry,  to  improvement,  to  elegance  and  refinement. 


ESPJERAKZA.  239 

"la  the^old  society  of  which  you  have  seen  somethin"-,  it  is 
honorable  to  be  idle ;  and  he  is  most  caressed  who  is  the  least 
useful  or  tlie  most  mischievous  member.  The  man  who  works 
is  held  in  low  esteem;  but  the  aristocrat  is  he, who  holds  the 
power  of  compellinn^  the  largest  number  to  work  for  him.  In  a 
social  state  so  false,  there  are  few  motives  to  virtue,  and  many  in- 
centives to  vice.  In  our  society,  and  that  we  seek  to  perpetuate,  all 
this  is  changed." 

It  is  so  true,  my  Clar;i  I  This  is  the  place  for  us  to  be  just  as 
good  as  we  wish  to  be  in  our  best  moments.  And  as  there  are  here 
all  motives  to  goodness  and  virtue,  there  are  few  temptations  to 
vice  or  crime.  Why  should  one  ever  do  or  speak  a  falsehood  here, 
where  all  is  truth  ?  Why  ever  steal,  either  material  or  spiritual 
goods,  where  each  one  can  have  all  that  he  has  a  right  to  have  of 
either  ?  Why  should  one  ever  hate,  when  love  is  the  oervadino- 
element,  or  seek  to  injure  any,  where  all  are  striving  to  be  good 
and  do  good  continually  ? 

The  passions  and  conditions  which  make  the  most  terrible  cur- 
ses of  civilization,  here  find  no  place.  There  are  no  brawls,  riots, 
or  tumults,  for  all  is  order  and  peace.  There  is  no  motive  nor  oc- 
casion for  drunkenness,  where  all  are  free  &om  care,  and  enjoy  in  the 
avocations  and  amusements  of  each  day,  a  more  beautiful  exhil- 
eralion  than  any  stimulant  can  offer.  Libertinism  and  prostitution 
are  impossible,  where  love  is  without  constraint,  and  the  purity  of 
'  woman  finds  its  safeguard  in  the  freedom  of  her  instincts.  Money 
is  nothere  a  temptation  to  the  pretence  of  love,  nor  is  the  heart  ever 
bartered  for  position  or  gold.  The  relations  of  aflfection  are 
asumed  with  careful  deliberation,  and  with  a  deep  sense  of  tlieir 
sacred  character.  There  is  no  influence  to  induce  man  or  woman 
to  enter  into  a  false  relation  ;  or  to  remain  in  one  a  single  hour  after 
its  falsity  is  discovered;  and  the  man  or  woman  who  should  do 
this,  would  forfeit  all  respect ;  so  much  is  the  interior  life — the  life' 
of  the  heart — guarded  against  all  falseness  and  evil. 

By  our  customs  and  laws,  the  woman  is  made  subject  to  the  will 
of  man,  in  their  most  intimate  relations.  She  is  tauo-ht  to  submit 
and  obey.     It  is  not  so  here.     Woman  reigns  supreme  over  the 


240  EsPKRAKZA. 

realm  of  the  affections,  and  with  her  finer  intuitive  sense,  sruards 
the  truLli  and  purity  of  all  her  relations  ;  and  every  true  man  ac- 
cepts humbly  and  joyfully  the  favors  she  bestows.  This  cliivalric 
deference  to  woman,  which  is  in  our  society  so  often  a  pretense 
and  a  sham,  is  here  a  noble  and  beautiful  reality.  The  sphere 
of  woman,  centering  in  the  affections,  is  thus  clearly  defined,  and 
never  encroached  upon  ;  and  the  rights  of  woman  are  secured  by 
her  having  achieved  her  supreme  and  pivotal  right  —  the  right  to 
herself;  to  the  care  and  bestowal  of  her  own  person  ;  and  the  free 
control  of  all  her  conditions  and  relations. 

And  in  dignity,  purity,  and  beauty  of  position  and  character,  the 
world  has  seen  no  women  who  excel  those  of  Ezperanza ;  nor  has 
human  society  ever  before  offered,  except  in  rare  and  individual 
instances,  conditions  for  the  development  of  these  noble  qualities. 
In  talent,  education,  accomplishment,  beauty,  and  elegance,  they 
would  grace  any  court  ;  while  in  loveliness  and  purity  they  seem 
to  me  angelic. 

With  an  earnest  spirit,  T  have  sought  to  know  the  truth  j-espect- 
ing  those  relations  on  which  the  harmony  and  happiness  of  life  so 
much  depends.  1  have  searched  into  the  depths  of  my  own  heart 
and  taken  counsel  also  df  the  wisest  here.  I  have  also  well  ob- 
served the  passional  phenomena  around  me.  And  I  come  to  these 
concl»sions. 

There  are  three  kinds  or  phases  of  passional  or  heart-love  of 
which  individuals  of  both  sexes  are  susceptible.  There  is  the  love 
of  reverence,  aspiring  and  adoring;  the  love  of  peerage,  or  equal- 
ity, in  which  like  seeks  to  like  ;  the  love  of  condescension,  be- 
nevolence and  protection.  With  the  first,  we  climb  upward ; 
with  the  second,  we  stand  firm  ;  by  the  third,  we  raise  others  to 
our  own  elevation.  There  seem  to  me  to  be  varieties  of  each  of 
these  phases ;  nor  can  I  observe  that  one  ever  interferes  with  the 
other. 

1  said  last  night  to  Melodia,  when  we  were  talking  soft  and  low 
of  these  sacred  things,  for  such  they  are  here  esteemed,  "Is  it 
true,  dear  Melodia,  that  you,  and  all  here,  are  absolutely  free,  in 
this  matter  of  love?" 


EsPERANZA.  241 

"Assuredly  !"  she  said,  with  a  geatle  look  of  surprise.  "  Free  ? 
What  then  is  there  to  force  or  restrain  us  ?  " 

"I  do  not  see,  and  yet  love  has  its  laws." 

"  As  all  life  has ;  and  the  laws  of  love,  like  all  the  laws  of 
life,  are  very  despotic  or  absolute,  and  not  to  be  disobeyed  with  im- 
punity, I  am  free  to  love,  just  as  I  am  free  to  eat ;  but  health,  and 
even  Kfe  requires  that  I  do  not  eat  what  is  not  congenial  to  me. 
Every  where,  and  in  all  things,  freedom  has  this  limitation.  It  is 
the  right  to  do  right — never  can  there  be  a  right  to  do  wrong. 

"  Love  may  be  defined  as  the  sense  of  congeniality  or  unity  of 
being  in  two  individuals  of  different  sexes.  It  is  an  attraction 
like  gravitation  ;  and  like  all  attractions,  it  must  be  free.  But  like 
other  attractions,  also,  it  has  its  laws  ;  and  these  laws  must  be 
obeyed. 

"  The  best  thing  for  you,  my  friend,  is  to  believe  in  the  divinity  of 
your  nature,  and  to  trust  in  the  truth  and  wisdom  of  those  you  love. 
Only  in  this  trust  can  your  heart  find  rest  and  peace.  Our  life 
has  much  for  you  of  soul-riches,  if  you  can  peacefully  accept  what 
comes  to  you  because  it  is  rightfully  yours  ;  but  if  you  cannot  trust 
me  and  others,  with  an  entire  faith  that  we  will  do  what  is  right,  both 
as  regards  you  andall  others,  you  will  greatly  mar  your  own  felicity. 
You  must  feel  that  I  am  to  be  trusted  with  the  guardianship  of  my 
own  heart,  and  that  Clara,  and  all  you  love  must  be  trusted  in  the 
same  self-guardianship.  If  I,  or  she,  or  any  of  us  make  mistakes, 
which  we  are  not  likely  to  do  here,  they  will  bring  their  own  pun- 
ishment and  correction.  Hard  as  it  might  be  for  you  to  see  Clara 
forming  a  relation  not  all  sacredly  true  to  her,  and  to  you,  it  would 
be  a  greater  grief  to  her ;  and  she  will  guard  her  heart  much  bet- 
ter than  you  can,  by  any  selfish  and  jealous  claim  over  her. 
Learn  then  to  trust.  How  can  you  trust  a  woman's  love  for  you, 
when  you  cannot  trust  in  the  truth  of  her  sentiment  for  another  ?  " 

"But  do  errors  never  occur  ?  "  I  asked  ;  '«Is  the  heart  infalli- 
ble?" 

"In  the  transition,  while  mixed  with  the  old  hfe,  we  have  all 
been  liable  to  errors  and  mistakes.     Our  instincts  have  been  per- 
verted ;  but  still  we  could  only  try  them  with  the  greater  care. 
21 


242  EsPKKANZA. 

The  consequences  of  our  faults  were  the  only  correctives.  Each 
had  only  to  live  to  his  highest  sense  of  right ;  and  what  better  or 
what  else  was  possible  ?  you  must  still  trust  your  feet  though  you 
stumble  at  times — you  must  go  by  your  senses,  if  they  have  de- 
ceived you.  So  must  you  trust  the  heart.  And  be  sure,  my  friend, 
that  every  woman,  who  lives  our  life,  wishes,  of  all  things,  to  be 
right,  in  what  is  most  sacred  to  her." 

It  has  been  hard  for  me,  dear  Clara,  and  doubtless  will  be  in 
the  future,  to  rest  as  peacefully  as  I  should,  in  this  holy  faith  ;  but 
I  know,  in  my  deepest  consciousness,  that  it  is  riglit ;  and  that 
you  are  as  worthy  of  my  whole  trust,  as  you  are  of  my  love. 
And  I  know  that  I  can  leave  you  in  freedom.  Do  you  remember 
what  Pericles  writes  to  Aspasia,  in  that  beautiful  book  of  our 
noble  Landor  ?  "  Do  what  thy  heart  tells  thee  " — he  says — "  do 
all  thy  heart  tells  thee  ;  and  oh  !  may  the  beautiful  feet  of  my 
Aspasia  stand  firm."  It  was  the  trust  of  the  hero,  and  the  prayer 
of  the  lover.  And  so,  my  blessed  Clara,  with  the  same  deep 
trust,  and  the  same  fond  prayer,  will  I  ever  say  to  thee,  do  all  thy 
heart  tells  thee.  

In  my  conversation  with  Vincent  to-day,  I  took  occasion  to  ask 
him  what  influences  were  used  in  this  state  of  social  freedom,  to 
protect  the  young  from  the  effects  of  passional  excesses. 

"  There  is  no  lack  of  such  protection,"  said  he.  "  Our  young 
people  live  upoji  a  pure  and  simple  diet,  and  their  senses  are  not 
unduly  and  prematurely  stimulated  by  unliealty  and  exciting  food. 
They  are  generally  free  from  the  hereditary  taint  of  amative  dis- 
ease. Love  comes  to  the  pure  mind  of  youth,  as  an  ideal  senti- 
ment, and,  in  one  of  a  natural  life,  and  imstimulated  passions,  it 
does  not  soon  take  the  form  of  a  sensual  desire. 

"  It  is  also  a  matter  of  observation  and  experience  with  us,  that 
the  first  loves  of  the  young,  are  the  loves  of  aspiration  and  rever- 
ence.    When  the  youth  of  fifteen  loves,  with  a  timid  and  worship- 
ful reverence,  a  woman  of  twenty-five  or   thirty  years,    the   very    I 
reverence  and  idolatry  of  this  love  protects  him   from  the  h.ope  or    j 
wish  of  any  sensuous  expression.     So  the  young  maiden,   in  the 


EsPEBAXZA.  243 

flush  of  her  ■womanly  life,  looks  up  to  some  heroic  ideal,  some 
tnan  who  embodies  all  that  she  can  conceive  of  manhood.  And 
those  of  us  who  are  fitted  to  inspire,  and  worthy  to  receive,  these 
fracrrant  aromas  of  the  buddinG:  soul,  are  too  wise,  and  too  ffood 
ever  to  bring  upon  them  the  blight  of  premature  indulgence  of  a 
sensual  passion. 

"  Our  youth  of  both  sexes  live  in  a  sacred  vestalate,  until  their 
lives  are  expanded  and  matured,  and  they  are  ready  to  perform  the 
parental  functions.  This  chastity  gives  vigor  to  body  and  mind. 
The  power  that  would  else  be  wasted,  expands  itself  in  the  perfec- 
tion of  the  whole  organization,  so  that  our  young  men  are  full  of  the 
strength  of  an  unexhausted  manhood,  and  our  young  women  have 
all   the  power  and  beauty  of  perfect  womanhood. 

Compared  with  the  world,  all  our  lives  are  chaste  and  pure,  and 
they  are  proportionally  progressive,  aspiring,  and  happy.  The 
spiritual  element  triumphs  over  the  material.  As  our  lives  im- 
prove, the  children  born  to  us  will  have  superior  organizations,  and 
so  on,  we  hope,  through  progressive  generations,  with  increase  of 
health,  physical  and  mental  power,  longevity  and  happiness." 

"And  still  on?" 

Vincent  turned  his  eyes  on  me  as  if  to  read  the  full  meaning  of 
my  question. 

"Yes,  still  on!  Who  shall  limit  the  power  of  a  progressive 
being  ?  What  grandeur  and  glory  may  not  humanity  be  capable 
of  in  the  now  dawning  future,  when  life  and  immortality  shall  be 
brought  to  light. 

Life  and  Immortality,"  he  said,  with  a  slow  emphatic  utterance  ; 
"but  this  is  a  mvsterv,  which  the  future  must  unfold  to  us." 


You  have  a  fine  talent  for  music,  my  Clara,  and  for  the  arts  of 
design.  You  have  the  capability  to  make  an  excellent  player  and 
singer,  and  also  a  good  painter.  But  if  we  were  to  marrv  and  live 
the  routine  life  of  civilization,  these  beautiful  talents  could  never 
be  developed.  Have  we  not  seen  this  in  many  cases  ?  Tlie  mother 
of  a  family  cannot  be  a  great  artist — the  great  artist  must  neglect 
her  family.     Whatever  the  talent  of  a  voxmg  lady  for  music  -or 


244  ESPERAXZA. 

art  may  be,  soon  after  her  marriage,  the  piano-forte  is  closed,  the 
harp  stands  tuneless,  the  easel  goes  to  the  lumber-room.  There 
are  too  many  cares  and  duties. 

I  cannot  endure  that  it  should  be  so  with  you.  I  cannot  be  the 
means  of  hindering  your  progress  in  the  development  of  all  your 
faculties.  But  in  the  waste  and  monotonous  toils  of  civilization 
development  goes  not  onward.  Even  the  round  of  fashionable 
dressino-,  visiting,  and  dissipation,  is  inconsistent  with  intellectual 
and  artistic  improvement.  Our  whole  life  is  such  a  waste,  dear  Clara, 
a  dreary,  hopeless  waste.  Men  toil  for  the  means  which  women 
spend  in  a  toil  as  unsatisfactory. 

But  here — here  in  this  home  of  freedom,  and  beauty,  and  love, 
here  every  talent  finds  its  culture  and  use.  Here,  my  Clara,  you 
can  become  a  glorious  singer  and  musician.  Melodia  will  teach 
you  with  great  joy.  Here  you  will  have  many  friends  to  appreciate 
and  admire  you.  Here  you  can  become  a  lovely  painter  with  Eva- 
line,  and  your  works  will  find  their  true  place.  You  will  have  society, 
the  best,  the  pleasantest,  the  most  improving,  without  the  necessi- 
ties of  making  formal  morning  calls,  or  giving  expensive  an  d  tire- 
some evening  parties.  Here  you  can  dress  from  morning  to  night 
with  neatness  and  elegance,  with  a  costume  appropriate  to  every 
avocation. 

I  have  never  seen  in  any  society  so  much  attention  paid  to  dress 
as  here.  It  takes  rank  as  a  fine  art.  It  is  as  if  each  person  was  a 
statue  or  picture,  or  a  character  in  a  drama,  and  took  special  care 
to  dress  the  part  correctly  and  with  absolute  taste.  There  is  an 
abundance  of  clothing,  both  common  and  individual  —  always  a 
three  years'  supply  at  least.  The  groups  of  construction  who 
make  the  costumes  of  both  sexes,  and  those  for  all  uses,  are  ar- 
tists, who  work  with  enthusiasm,  and,  guided  by  the  purest  taste, 
combine  in  every  thing  the  useful  and  the  agreeable.  The 
fabrics  are  strong,  soft,  rich  ;  the  colors  pleasing  and  harmonious  ; 
the  forms  elegant  and  superb.  In  ornaments  there  is  a  variety  and 
beauty  rivalling  that  of  the  nature  around  us.  I  have  not  seen 
one  instance  of  slatternly ness  or  tawdry ness.  There  is  always 
neatness  and  good  taste,  and  often  great  elegance.     Not  to  ofiend 


EsPfiRANZA.  245 

the  eyes  of  others,  and  to  give  them  all  proper  delight,   seems  to 
be  one  of  the  social  duties. 

In  New  York  I  would  not  wish  you  to  sing  or  play  at  a  public 
concert  or  the  opera.  There  is  something  repulsive  in  the  idea  of 
your  being  the  town-talk  ;  and  having  your  name  in  newspapers, 
bar-rooms,  and  worse  places ;  but  here,  I  should  be  delighted  to 
see  jovL  on  the  stage,  in  drama  or  opera,  or  in  the  concert-room  ; 
for  it  is  only  a  larger  family,  and  more  select  than  any  fiishionable 
party  ever  was  or  ever  can  be  in  the  world  of  civilization. 

Oh !  how  often  have  I  seen  at  our  parties,  men  bending  over 
sweet  young  girls  at  the  piano-forte,  or  embracing  them  in  the 
waltz  or  polka,  from  whom  they  would  have  shrunk  with  disgust, 
had  they  known  them  as  I  did.  But  here,  dear  Clara,  there  is  not 
one,  with  whom  I  could  not  be  as  content  to  see  you,  as  if  he  were 
your  own  brother.  Not  that  you  would  be  intimate  with  all,  or 
find  all  equally  attractive,  but  that  you  would  have  for  all  a  kind- 
ness and  respect. 

And  though  your  life  here  would  demand  an  orderly  and  care- 
ful industry,  yet  you  would  have  abundance  of  time  for  study,  and 
artistic  improvement.  The  burthen  of  work  and  care  is  so  divided, 
and  so  well  apportioned,  that  no  one  feels  the  weight  ;  and  no  one 
would  throw  it  off.  Men  and  women  perform  all  duties  liere,  with 
as  much  alacrity  as  the  muscles  and  organs  of  your  body  perform 
their  functions  ;  almost  as  unconsciously. 

Doubtless  it  was  more  difficult  at  first,  as  it  was  to  move  your 
fingers  rightly  when  you  first  began  to  play  on  the  piano-forte  ; 
but  you  know  how  soon  those  movements,  hard  at  first,  became 
easy,  habitual,  pleasant,  and  almost  involuntary.  So -is  it  here, 
in  the  beauiifnl  order  and  harmony  of  this  life. 

And  you  shall  come  here,  my  Clara,  and  be  taught  by  those 
who  will  so  love  and  prize  you,  and  those  whom  you  also  will  prize 
and  love.  I  know  it,  Clara,  you  cannot  fail  to  love  them  ;  and  though 
I  may  feel  some  of  the  old  selfishness,  which  would  seek  to  mo- 
nopolize you,  and  deprive  you  and  others  of  their  riglits,  I  know 
that  I  shall  conquer  it,  and  that  we  shall  be  a  thousand  times 
happier  here  than  we  could  ever  be  in  the  isolation  of  which  we 


246  E.srKRA.NZA. 

_  %__ 


have  dreamed ;  or  in  the  worldly  society,  of  which  we  have  seen 
enough  to  satisfy  us  of  its  hollowuess  and  shams, 

I  have  considered  well  of  our  dream  of  the  little  vine-covered 
cottage  and  pretty  garden  in  Minnesota,  or  Iowa  ;  where  we  could 
be  all  the  world  to  each  other.  It  is  better  that  we  have  here 
all  we  can  desire  of  each  other,  and  as  much  more  as  we  re- 
quire. And  then,  Clara,  should  any  thing  happen  to  me,  should 
I  be  taken  from  you,  I  feel  how  desolate  the  world  would  be  to 
you  ;  but  here,  I  should  leave  you  with  those  to  whom  I  could 
entrust  your  happiness  most  joyfully  —  to  those  who  would  be 
parents,  brothers,  sisters,  friends  and  lovers  to  you.  I  should 
leave  you  assured  of  every  comfort  and  happiness.  Do  not  be 
troubled  at  this,  for  it  is  needful  that  I  think  of  it.  Prudent 
men  of  small  incomes  insure  their  lives,  that  they  may  not  leave 
their  families  destitute  ;  but  they  cannot  provide  against  spiritual 
destitution.  Here  you  will  be  every  way  insured.  It  is  a  home 
to  live  in,  and  to  die  in. 

The  day  that  I  see  you  here,  dear  Clara  ;  the  day  I  see  your 
springy  step  upon  this  lawn,  when  your  soft  eyes  shall  shed  a  new 
radience  over  this  landscape,  when  Harmonia  shall  fold  you  to  her 
heart,  and  Melodia  shall  open  her  arms  to  yovi ;  when  Vincent 
shall  give  you  his  earnest  welcome,  and  Manlius  smile  his  hap- 
py, approving  smile ;  when  I  shall  see  you  enshrined  in  a 
group  of  loving  spirits,  and  all  our  loves  forming  an  accord  of 
rich  and  beautiful  harmony,  then  shall  I  be  completely  happy  — 
then  shall  we  realize  on. earth  the  happiness  that  we  have  thought 
that  heaven  alone  had  in  store  for  us.  Then  shall  we  know  the 
meaning  of  the  prayer,  "Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in 
heaven." 


The  good  Father  Gautier,  has  a  national  fondness  for  the  two 
arts  of  music  and  the  dance,  and  he  had  desired  that  we  should 
have  this  evening,  first,  a  pretty  opera  and  ballet,  and  afterwards  a 
concert  and  ball  in  which  all  could  join.  So  all  had  been  prepared 
to  meet  his  wishes.  Oh  !  could  you  have  seen  the  dear  old  man, 
with  a  group  of  his  rosy  little  ones  around  him,  sitting  cushioned 


EsPERA.NZA.       -  247 

up  in  his  arm-chair,  in  the  center  of  the  music  saloon,  listening  to 
every  note  of  the  music,  beating  time  with  the  dances,  and  enjoy- 
ing the   innocent  delight  with  the  zest  of  a  child ! 

"  The  music  is  good,"  he  said  to  me,  when,  at  his  invitation  I 
drew  near  him.  "My  children  sing,  play,  and  dance  very 
sweetly  ;  but  I  fancy  I  shall  soon  do  better.  I  think  our  friends 
on  the  other  side  have  better  instuments,  larger  bands,  and  much 
finer  music.  Then,  in  dancing,  there  can  be  no  comparison. 
When  I  get  these  poor  old  legs  off,  I  shall  dance  again,  as  1  some- 
times dream  of  dancing." 

When  the  opera  was  over,  and  the  favorite  singers  and  dancers 
had  received  their  ovations  ;  the  floor  was  cleared  and  levelled  for 
the  concert  and  ball.  The  arm  chair  of  the  good  Father  was 
wheeled  to  one  side,  and  elevated  upon  a  little  platform.  He  slept 
a  little  while  in  the  interval.  He  was  sleeping,  watched  over  with 
a  hushed  tenderness,  until  waked  by  the  overture  of  the  full  band. 
He  awoke,  smiling  happily,  and  opened  his  eyes  as  if  upon  the 
heaven  of  his  dreams. 

Then  pealed  forth  a  magnificent  chorus  of  a  hundred  well  at- 
tuned and  well  trained  voices.  It  was  the  old  man's  favorite 
chorus.  The  tears  ran  down  his  pale  and  furrowed  cheeks  ;  tears 
of  extacy  ;  not,  I  am  sure,  of  sadness. 

Then  came  the  dance  ;  a  brief  dance  of  an  hour,  in  which  old  and 
young  all  joined,  and  in  which  symetrical  figures,  charming  music, 
and  a  magnetic  life  circulation,  produced  a  harmony,  which  must 
be  felt.  A  few  times  in  oui-  lives,  dear  Clara,  in  our  best  moments, 
and  in  the  most  genial  groups  we  could  gather  around  us,  we  have 
felt  something  of  this  life ;  but  compared  to  this,  it  was  as  a  rill 
to  a  river;  and  I  can  conceive,  that  in  the  fullness  of  this  life, 
when  Esperanza  h'-is  found  its  full  growth  and  development,  all  its 
harmonies  will  be  proportionally  increased. 

After  the  dance  came  more  music.  Melodia  saner  the  Marseil- 
laise.  Gautier's  brows  contracted ;  his  muscles  became  tense,  his 
chest  expanded  ;  his  eyes  flashed  out  their  youthful  fires.  But  he 
soon  smiled  and  shook  his  head  ;  and  said,  "  Not  that,  dear  one ; 


248  ESPERANZA. 

that  is  of  the  old  world  and  its  struggles  and  contests ;  sing  of  the 
new  Life  and  its  harmonies  and  joys." 

And  Melodia  sang  a  magnificent  ode  of  Freedom  achieved,  of 
Harmonies  established,  of  Peace,  and  Love,  and  Happiness.  And 
the  grand  chorus,  swelled  by  all  voices,  and  filling  all  hearts,  was 
the  fitting  termination  of  the  evening's  festival. 

The  plaudits  of  the  assembly  demanded  that  Melodia  should  be 
crowned  with  the  votive  wreath. 

She  bent  her  beautiful  head,  with  the  true  humility  of  a  great 
soul,  while  Vincent  placed  upon  it  the  wreath  ;  then  stood  a  mo- 
ment smiling  her  thanks  ;  then  walked  to  where  the  good  Father 
sat,  enjoying  the  triumph  of  his  child,  and  mid  the  plaudits  and 
vivas,  took  the  flower  wreath  from  her  head  and  placed  it  upon  his 
brows.  As  she  dropped  upon  her  knees  before  him, — all  were 
hushed  into  a  reverent  silence.  The  old  man  could  not  speak. 
He  laid  his  hands  upon  her  glossy  hair,  and  raised  his  eyes  to 
heaven. 

She  rose  and  kissed  his  hand,  and  they  bore  him,  exhausted, 
but  full  of  happiness,  to  his  repose. 


XVII. 

PROPAGANDISM. 

My  own  Dear  Clara  : — The  longing  to  see  you,  or,  at  least,  to 
hear  from  you,  comes  over  me,  even  here,  with  deep  yearnings. 
How  it  would  be  in  any  of  the  dull  places  of  our  common  world, 
I  will  not  venture  to  surmise.  Even  here,  this  famishing  heart- 
ache comes,  teaching  me  that  the  heart  demands  all  its  attractions, 
and  that  there  are  no  compensations  for  our  spiritual  wants. 

If  you  could  but  write  to  me — but  that  is  cut  off,  as  if  I  were  on 
the  ocean  ;  and  I  think  of  the  thousands  of  men  who  go  to  India 
or  California,  doubling  capes  in  long  sea  voyages,  and  banished 
from  all  heart-ties.  I  have  your  likeness,  and  it  rests  night  and 
day  upon  my  heart.  I  look  so  long  and  lovingly  into  your  sweet 
eyes,  which  seem  to  look  at  me  with  a  tender  reproachfulness.  Do 
,not  think  I  do  not  know  that  you  also  feel  this  absence.  But  I  hope 
my  long  and  frequent  letters  may  give  you  some  happiness.  I  am 
very  happy  in  writing  them ;  and  should  miss  you  far  more,  if  I 
were  not,  some  hours  of  every  day,  in  this  rapport  with  you. 

Fancy  me  now.  It  is  morning — the  hour  after  breakfast,  I  sit 
in  the  beautiful  little  room  assigned  me,  in  the  suite  of  Melodia,  in 
my  dressing  gown  and  slippers,  writing  at  a  carved  table.  The 
floor  is  matted  with  a  clean  and  fragrant  matting,  woven  here  from 
the  flags  of  the  lake-shore.  The  walls  have  been  painted  in  lovely 
pictures  by  Melodia  and  her  artist  friends.  You  would  never  tire 
looking  at  them.  In  each  scroll  or  medallion  is  a  picture,  harmon- 
izing with  the  general  design,  but  marked  with  the  sign -manual 
of  the  artist.     There  is  a  personal  interest  in  every  line. 

Professor  Buchanan  has  given  the  name  of  psychometry,  or 
soul-measuring,  to  the  faculty  which  some  persons  possess,  of  be- 

249 


250  EsPEUAKZA. 

ing  impressed  by  a  writing,  or  other  relic  of  an  absent  person.  I 
have  not  mucli  of  this  irapressibilitj  ;  but  there  are  some  here  who 
are  wonderfully  gifted  in  this  way,  A  letter  of  any  person,  held  in 
the  hand  of  Harmonia,  is  to  her  a  revelation  of  character,  appear- 
ance, relations,  of  all  that  appertains  to  them.  I  do  not  under- 
stand this  faculty — but  the  fact  of  its  existence  is  unquestionable. 
Why  should  not  this  room,  then,  have  its  own  sphere  ?  and  every 
work  of  art  which  embellishes  it,  make  its  clear  impression  of  the 
character  and  motives  of  the  artist  ?  It  must  be  so  ;  for  I  feel  all 
around  me  the  subtle,  soothing,  ennobling  influence  of  Melodia, 
and  with  her's,  other  harmonious  spheres,  making  life  musical. 

One  day  when  we  were  talking  of  this  impressibility.  I  took  a 
letter  of  yours,  sealed  in  a  blank  envelope,  and  which  1  always  car- 
ry near  my  heart,  and  gave  it  to  Harmonia.  She  held  it  a  moment 
in  her  hand,  then  pressed  it  to  her  forehead — then  to  her  heart. 
There  came  over  her  face  a  sweet,  happy  smile,  so  like  yours,  my 
Clara !  and  she  said  : 

"  There  comes  to  me  the  image  of  a  fair,  pure,  loving  girl,  with 
broad,  white  forehead,  rosy  cheeks  and  loving  lips;  a  delicate, 
keen  intellect,  and  many  gifts.  She  seems  peaceful  in  her  life,  and 
happy  in  her  love.  A  pure,'  liarmonic  spirit,  who  ouglit  to  be  with 
us  ;  she  would  find  our  life  in  harmony  with  all  her  aspirations. 
Gentle,  loving,  beautiful  spirit — she  is  one  of  ours."  She  handed 
the  letter  back  to  me,  saying:  "Names  are  not  often  revealed  to 
me,  but  this  must  be  your  Clara,  and  I  give  you  joy  of  the  love 
of  such  a  lovely  spirit.  She  will  come  to  us,  and  be  very  happy 
in  our  love." 

I  accept  the  prediction  ;  for  its  fulfilment  is  the  condition  of  our 
happiness. 

Now  I  must  tell  you  of  yesterday. 

First  of  all,  in  the  interest  of  our  life,  our  good  Faiher  Gautier 
fails  visibly.  Vincent  thinks  he  can  not  stay  with  us  above  foriy- 
ei^ht  hours.  The  noble,  ijenerous,  devoted  old  man  !  I  went  to 
see  him  in  liis  room  yesterday,  with  Melodia.  1  wish  you  could 
see  how  nobly  it  fits  him,  like  a  well-made  garment.  Every  thing, 
down  to  the  smallest  ornament,  is  in  character  and  keeping.  There 


ESPERANZA.  251 

is  a  book-case,  with  nice  editions  of  his  favorite  French  authors ; 
and  especially,  all  of  Fourier,'  whose  bust,  modelled  by  Melodia, 
from  an  engraved  portrait,  under  his  inspection,  and  seeming  to 
me  very  spirited  and  life-like,  adorns  its  top. 

The  old  man  was  sitting  in  an  easy  chair,  near  a  window  that 
looks  out  upon  the  lawn  and  over  the  lake.  A  prince  could  not  be 
better  cared  for ;  and  no  money  could  purchase  these  loving  atten- 
tions. I  lose  not  only  all  fear,  but  all  awe  of  death,  when  I  see 
this  beloved  and  revered  old  man,  so  calmly  preparing  to  take 
leave  of  the  earth-life  —  speaking  of  the  coming  change  as  of  a 
pleasant  journey  ;  and  with  a  faith  in  immortality  so  fixed,  and  a 
Trust  so  firm,   and  yet  so  humble,  in  the  destiny  which  awaits  him. 

"  Ah  !  Melodia,  darling,"  said  he,  with  a  voice  weaker  and  more 
tremulous  than  the  day  previous,  "I  shall  be  the  first  —  your  first 
ambassador.  This  is  quite  an  honor.  First  delegate  from  Espe- 
ranza.  Well,  it  is  time  we  were  represented  in  our.  parent-society  ; 
and  you  may  count  on  my  influence." 

There  was  no  levity  in  this  ;  but  a  genuine  earnestness. 

As  we  walked  out  of  his  room,  leaving  him  with  Manlius,  who 
came  to  talk  of  some  business  connected  with  the  domain,  Melodia 
was  silent,  but  not  sad.     After  a  whUe  she  said  : 

"  I  have  looked  forward  to  this  too  long  to  be  troubled  by  it 
now.  It  must  come,  and  as  well  to-morrow  as  a  year  hence.  This 
life,  especially  when  truly  lived,  is  richly  worth  the  living.  I 
would  neither  shorten  it,  nor  prolong  it,  beyond  its  true  appoint- 
ment. We  can  spare  him,  and  almost  any  one  now — any  one, 
likely  to  leave  us." 

There  was  a  little  tremor  of  her  voice  ;  a  thickening  of  the  utter- 
ance, which  told  me  that  she  thought  of  one  whom  she  could  not 
spare. 

"I  am  a  little  wrong  "  she  said,  softly,  "in  saying  we  can  spare 
any  one.  Doubtless  the  life  would  go  on.  That  seems  abundantly 
assured.  I  doubt  not  that  all  will  be  right ;  I  believe  that  none  will 
leave  us,  whose  post  of  duty  is  here.  There  are  those  we  cannot 
lose  yet." 

"  What  would  be  the  result,"  I  said,  "  were  Vincent  to  die  ?  " 


252  EsPERAXZA. 

I  was  very  sorry  that  I  asked  this  question.  She  slopped  still 
in  her  walk  ;  her  face  became  pale  as  marble,  and  like  a  marble 
statue  in  its  cold  stern  beauty.  There  was  a  deep  inspiration,  and 
a  little  quivering  of  the  muscles  at  the  corners  of  the  mouth  ;  but 
the  color  came  back  to  her  cheeks  and  lips,  in  a  flood  ;  and  the 
light  flashed  from  her  eyes  as  she  said : 

"Vincent  will  not  die  !  " 

**  Then  she  smiled  sweetly,  again,  and  spoke  as  calmly  as  ever 
of  his  fine,  pure  health  ;  his  constitution,  which  shows  no  sign  of 
age  or  decay  ;  and  of  her  assurance  of  his  living  many  years. 

"  Nothing  can  take  him  from  us,  but  some  violence  ;  and  our 
good  friends  are  too  watchful  to  allow  of  that." 

"Do  you  also  feel  sure  of  Harmonia  ?  "  I  asked,  not  without 
apprehension,  so  feeble  seems  her  organization. 

"She  lives  upon  the  life  of  the  strong  ones  who  love  her  ;  and 
the  inflowing  life  of  the  heavens  also  sustains  her.  Year  by  year 
she  grows  stronger,  as  if  her  spirit,  aided  by  these  genial  condi- 
tions, was  building  up  for  itself,  a  new  body.  At  times,  disease 
has  seemed  to  threaten  her,  but  she  has  been  carried  through  every 
crisis,  and  each  has  seemed  to  remove  some  obstruction,  and  to 
make  her  health  better." 

"  This  is  wonderful,"  I  said  ;  "  and  death  has  not  yet  visited 
you." 

<«  No  ; — why  should  he  ? — if  you  must  personify  this  transition. 
We  live  in  the  conditions  of  health,  and  not  of  disease.  Our 
children  are  born  to  a  full  heritage  of  life  ;  and  not,  as  in  the 
world,  to  an  inheritance  of  disease  and  dissolution.  Ordering  all 
our  lives  in  harmony  with  natural  law,  what  should  make  any  one 
sick,  or  bring  to  us  the  pain  of  premature  death  ? 

"  There  is  no  man  or  woman  here  who  would  become  the  parent 
of  a  child,  unless  assured  that  he  or  she  could  give  it  its  right  to 
health. 

"  Our  vestalate  consists  of  the  young  who  are  not  yet  perfeeted 
enough  in  their  own  beings  to  give  a  true  birth  to  others  ;  and  of 
those  who  are  conscious  of  their  inability  ever  to  do  so.  The  sel- 
fishness that  for  a  momentary  pleasure  would  perpetuate  disease, 


EsPERANZA.  253 

and  bring  pain  upon  the  individual  and  the  social  life,  can  have  no 
place  with  us." 

"  Then  disease  and  premature  mortality  must  die  out  of  the 
earth." 

"Yes;  it  is  our  work  to  conquer  these  foes  of  humanity.  It  is 
our  work  to  repeople  the  earth  with  healthy  men  and  women,  and 
replace  the  miserable,  short-lived  generations  now  scattered  over  its 
surface.  So  humanity  will  rise,  redeemed  from  all  its  degrada- 
tions. The  earth  will  become  the  magnificent  domain  of  a  noble 
and  happy  race.  The  tree  is  planted,  my  friend,  here  ;  and  its 
seed  shall  fill  the  earth  ;  for  it  has  in  it  the  Hfe  of  the  heavens." 

I  went  to  meet  Vincent,  with  my  enthusiasm  fully  awakened. 
He  looked  at  me,  and  then  sat  silent,  instead  of  speaking  as  usual ; 
as  if  he  knew  I  had  something  to  tell  him. 

And  I  had.  "It  appears  to  me,"  I  said,  "that  you,  who  are 
enjoying  the  happiness  of  this  life,  and  not  doing  your  duty  to  the 
world  you  have  left.  There  are  thousands  who  would  gladly  em- 
brace it,  if  they  only  knew  of  it.  That  knowledge  you  studiously 
conceal.  Is  it  not  your  duty  to  go  forth  and  tell  the  world  that  a 
true  life  may  be  lived  ;  and  that  their  false  one,  with  all  iis  evils 
and  miseries,  is  not,  as  they  think  it,  a  terrible  necessity." 

He  was  not  hasty  to  answer,  but  smiled  one  of  those  quiet  smiles, 
which,  but  for  his  kindness,  would  be  a  sneer. 

"  The  mii^siouary  spirit  seems  strong  upon  you,"  he  said;  "I 
have  had  it,  myself,  formerly.  It  is  a  good  spirit ;  but  tends  to 
zeal  rather  than  prudence." 

"But  it  is  this  zeal  that  must  reform  the  world,"  I  said. 

"  Yes,  after  its  own  fashion.  The  zeal  of  the  catholic  mission- 
aries, three  hundred  years  ago,  led  to  the  conquest  and  desolation 
of  the  West  Indies,  Mexico,  and  Peru.  It  planted  the  cross  in 
China,  soon  to  be  expelled  ;  and  in  Japan,  to  be  trampled  upon 
ever  since.  But,  in  this  missionary  spirit,  what  do  you  propose  to 
do?" 

"  If  I  had  your  approval,  and  that  of  our  friends  here,  I  would  go 
out  into  the  world,  and  tell  them  of  your  life  and  its  happiness, 
and  compare  it  with  their  own  poor  and  discordant  conditions.     I 


264  EsPERANZA. 

feel  assured  that  I  could  find  hundreds  and  thousands,  who  would 
accept  it  with  enthusiasm.  I  would  lecture  in  all  the  cities  and 
large  towns  in  the  country," 

A  smile  played  over  Vincent's  face  for  a  moment,  and  then  a 
shadow  followed  it. 

"It  is  a  hard  thing,"  said  he,  "to  repress  the  enthusiasm  of 
youth,  especially  when  excited  in  behalf  of  a  cause  so  dear  to  me  j 
but  I  have  lived  much  longer  in  the  world  than  you  ;  and  have 
had  a  more  varied  experience.  The  movement  you  propose  is  sub- 
ject, like  all  otliers,  to  the  law  of  requirement — the  law  of  supply 
and  demand.  It  is  equally  unwise  to  carry  coals  to  New  Castle, 
and  warming  pans  to  the  West  Indies;  though  Lord  Timothy 
Dexter  is  said  to  have  made  a  good  speculation  in  that  way  ;  sell- 
ing his  mad  venture  for  sugar  ladles  and  strainers.  If  you  bring 
people  what  they  do  not  want,  or  are  not  conscious  of  needing,  or 
are  not  prepared  to  receive,  no  success  can  await  you.  People 
are  struggling  to  better  their  present  condilions — not  to  change 
them.  Go  and  tell  them  where  they  can  find  gold,  and  they  will 
rush  oflp  by  tens  of  thousands,  across  sandy  deserts  and  stormy 
seas,  braving  fill  perils,  fatigues,  starvation  and  death.  But  go 
and  tell  them  how  they  can  live  lives  of  purity,  and  health,  and 
happiness,  and  few  will  hear,  and  fev/!-r  heed  you.  You  doubt  ? 
Try  it,  if  vou  will.  In  New  Yoik,  with  liberal  advertising,  out 
of  seven  hundred  thousand  you  will  gather  a  hundred  idle  or  curi- 
ous people ;  of  whom,  possibly,  two  or  three  may  be  interested 
enough  to  come  again  and  hear  you.  It  will  be  the  same  else- 
where ;  onlv,  in  the  smaller  places,  there  will  be  more  curiosity,  but 
not  a  much  greater  success.  Do  the  v/ork  ycu  have  to  do  ;  but  be 
prepared  for  the  result  I  know  mu?t;  fol'ow. 

"The  few  who  will  hoar  you  gladly,  and  be  anzions  to  enter  upon 
the  life  you  picture,  will  be  those  who  are  hopeless  of  success  in 
the  world  as  if  is,  and  who,  in  most  cases,  have  no  power  to  achieve 
it  any  where." 

I  felt  a  glow  of  indignation.  It  ?ecmed  'to  me  that  this  man 
misjudged  mankind.  I  could  not  believe  them  so  blinded  to  their 
own  happiness.     It  seemed  to  me  that  I  could  Avrite  an  advertise- 


EsPEKASZA.  255 

raent,  which  -would  crowd  any  lecture  room  ;  and  that  I  could  pre- 
pare a  discourse  on  the  falseness  and  evils  of  the  existing  social 
order,  and  the  beauty  and  practicability  of  the  harmonic  life,  which 
would  carry  conviction  to  every  mind,  and  stir  every  heart  to  an 
enthusiasm  as  great  as  my  own.  I  did  not  say  this ;  but  he  doubt- 
less knew  what  was  passing  in  my  mind,  for  he  said  : 

"  Well  ;  we  will  suppose  that  I  am  in  error.  Attracted  by  the 
novelty  of  the  subject,  crowds  come  to  hear  you.  Charmed  by 
your  eloquence  and  convinced  by  your  demonstrations,  joined  to 
their  own  experience,  they  are  ready  to  embrace  a  better  social 
state.     What  next  ? 

"  Now  comes  the  work  of  separation  from  the  Old  and  the  pre- 
paration for  the  New  life.  The  ambitious  man  must  abandon  his 
career.  The  selfish  man  his  selfishness.  The  sensualist  his  sen- 
suality. The  woman  of  fashion  and  society  must  give  up  her 
favorite  pursuits  and  projects.  The  whole  life  must  be  changed. 
x\.ll  evil  habits  must  be  abandoned  ;  all  f;ilse  and  selfish  feelings 
must  give  place  to  the  tme  and  good. 

"Are  there  many  who  will  give  up,  even  their  dietetic  habits,  for 
all  the  hopes  you  can  offer  them — the  morning  coffee,  the  evening 
tea,  tlie  noon-day  dram  ;  the  gorging  on  exciting  flesh,  and  the 
sensuality  to  which  it  excites  nervous  and  dyspeptic  organizations. 

"  When  you  have  gathered  an  audience  of  a  thousand  persons, 
how  many  will  you  find,  who  are  ready  to  comply  with  the  most 
external  requirements  of  our  life.  How  many  live  in  a  state  of 
decent  cleanliness  by  performing  daily  ablutions  1  How  many  can 
you  induce,  for  any  consideration,  to  give  up  the  poisoning  and  dis- 
easing luxuries  of  the  table,  for  the  purity  of  our  repasts  ?  How 
many  will  conform  to  that  law  of  chastity  which  lies  at  the  center 
of  our  life,  and  is  the  absolute  condition,  as  it  is  the  powerful 
mainspring,  of  development  ?  How  many  will  give  up  an  erratic 
and  egoistic  individualism,  or  intense  and  utter  selfishness,  and 
come  into  the  order  of  a  true  obedience,  which  is  the  necessary 
condition  of  a  harmonic  life  ?  How  ranny,  even,  will  have  the 
strength  to  achieve  that  personal  freedom,  wliich  is  the  first  step 
toward  a  life  of  (ruth.     Will  your  eloquence  make  thera  free  wh<  n 


256  EsPERANZA. 

there  is  opposed  to  you  all  the  bonds  of  habit,  custom,  opinion,  and 
law  ;  the  obligations  of  children  to  parents  ;  the  contracts  and 
vows  which  hold  men  and  women  fast  in  the  marriage  slavery  ; 
the  selfish  struggles  for  property,  position,  and  station  ;  the  whole 
power  of  this  life,  which  so  prisons,  cripples,  and  starves  all  hu- 
man souls  ? 

"  These  are  the  obstacles  to  your  success.     You  cannot  save  the 
world,  until  it  is  ready  to  be  saved.     I  gave  many  years  of  my  life 
to  this  work,  and  my  most  earnest  efforts  brought  me  little  but- 
obloquy  and  persecution.     My  name  was  a  bye-word.     My  good 
was  evil  spoken  of." 

"And  here,"  I  exclaimed,  looking  round  upon  this  scene  of  in- 
dustry and  beauty,  "  here  is  your  reward." 

"  Yes — it  is  well.  But  I  thought  to  redeem  the  world  en  masse ; 
not  to  gather  out  of  it  a  little  scattered  band  of  true  souls,  who 
were  found  worthy.  Great  multitudes  followed  Jesus,  were  healed 
of  their  diseases,  fed  on  loaves  and  fishes,  and  shouted  hozanah  ; 
but  there  were  very  few  ready  to  forsake  all  and  follow  him.  It  is 
of  our  gospel,  of  Him  ;  he  that  loveth  father,  or  mother,  or  wife,  or 
children,  or  houses,  or  lands,  more  than  me,  is  not  worthy  of  me. 
He  that  would  save  his  own  life,  shall  lose  it.  These  are  but  the 
utterances  of  universal  law  ;  they  are  found  in  all  scriptures,  and 
are  applicable  to  all  true  movements.  If  they  were  true  of  the  first 
coming,  and  the  gathering  of  the  typical  church  ;  they  are  much 
more  so  of  this  second  coining,  in  the  glory  of  a  purified  humanity, 
and  the  social  redemption  of  our  race. 

"  Nevertheless,  if  you  are  called  to  do  a  work,  you  must  do  it, 
and  be  justified  in  your  own  conscience.  Go  preach  our  gospel  if 
you  have  the  internal  monition,  and  all  powerful  must.  I  have  told 
you  the  truth.  Few  will  hear,  and  fewer  heed  you.  But  if  you 
labor  for  a  year,  and  save  but  one  soul,  you  will  have  your  reward." 

"It  is  enough,"  I  said,  very  humbly;  fori  felt  how  little  I 
could  hope  to  do,  when  others  so  much  advanced  in  progress  and 
wisdom,  had  wrought  for  years,  with  so  little  of  what  the  world 
calls  success. 

We  have  seen  the  world's  triumphs.     A   regiment  returning  in 


EsPKRAXZA.  257 

rags  and  sickness  from  Mexico,  is  received  with  a  city's  enthusias- 
tic welcome.  It  was  well — for  courage  and  devotion  should  be 
honored,  even  when  exerted  in  a  doubtful  cause.  We  saw  the 
miles  of  Broadway  and  the  Bowery  thronged  to  welcome  Kossuth  ; 
a  noble  impulse  of  hero-worship,  whether  well  or  ill-bestowed. 
We  have  seen  the  popular  ovations  to  art,  in  the  persons  of  Fanny 
Ellsler  and  Jenny  Lind.  But  if  it  were  announced  that  Pythago- 
ras, or  Socrates,  or  Jesus,  or  Fourier  would  land  on  the  Battery 
some  mornmg,  I  am  afraid  there  would  be  but  a  slim  cortege 
to  welcome  them. 

The  hero  of  the  future  cannot  find  worship  in  the  present.  But 
may  not  the  present  be  awakened  to  the  dawning  future  ?  If  I 
could  do  but  this  !  How  often  do  we  hear  people  pray  God  to 
hasten  the  good  coming  time.  And  if  we  can  do  any  thing  to 
hasten  the  day  that  must  surely  come,  it  must  be  God  working  in 
us,  to  will  and  to  do.  So  let  me  humbly  do  my  appointed  work, 
only  making  sure  of  the  appointment. 


Besides  the  regular  requirements  of  industry  ;  the  seasonable  work 
of  a  great  plantation,  large  gardens,  orchards,  and  vineyards  ;  and 
the  manufactures,  artist-work,  and  household  labors,  there  come 
at  short  intervals  special  works,  which  excite  a  new  interest  and 
enthusiasm,  and  in  which  our  hardy,  athlectic  friends  love  to  show 
their  prowess. 

In  the  order  for  this  morning's  work,  for  example,  there  was  the 
preparation  of  anew  garden-spot,  upon  a  principle  which  Vincent, 
after  a  careful  experiment,  has  developed  into  a  wonderful  pre- 
fection. 

I  had  often  noticed  a  portion  of  the  garden,  arranged  in  beds 
of  fifty  feet  in  length,  by  five  in  breadth,  with  alleys  runnino-  be- 
tween them,  and  remarked  their  exceeding  richness  and  fertility.  I 
have  never  seen  any  thing  to  compare  with  the  rapidity  and  per- 
fection of  growth  attained  in  these  beds.  But  there  has  been  so 
much  to  see  and  learn  here,  that  I  had  never  inquired  into  the 
mystery. 

But,  to-day  I  had  a  chance  to  see  the  process  of  preparing  to 
22 


1258  EjiPERANZA. 

extend  them  over  a  new  portion  of  ground,  from  which  the  sea- 
son's crop  had  just  been  gathered.  Many  hands  made  light  work. 
A  space  of  ground  fifty  feet  by  two  hundred  was  marked  out, — 
deeply  ploughed,  and  the  soil  hauled  off  to  the  depth  of  eighteen 
inches.  It  was  then  made  smooth,  with  a  slight  descent,  and 
now  came  a  group  of  masons,  and  covered  the  whole  with  a  floor 
of  cement.  On  this  bed  was  laid  drains,  in  this  case  three  feet 
apart,  and  fifty  feet  long ;  a  certain  number  beiug  connected  by 
branch  drains  at  each  end,  opening  into  a  funnel  at  the  upper  or 
more  elevated  end,  and  into  a  reservoir  at  the  lower,  where  a  wall  is 
carried  along,  with  openings  connecting  with  the  drains. 

Eugenia,  whose  passion  for  the  garden  extends  to  all  its  pro- 
ducts, explained  the  whole  process  to  me ;  and  showed  me  its 
working  in  the  beds  now  in  operation.  After  the  drains  are  laid 
the  soil  is  restored  to  its  place,  and  the  garden  is  ready  for  plant- 
ing. If  the  earth  is  not  of  a  suflSciently  light  and  porous  charac- 
ter, it  is  made  so  by  suitable  additions. 

The  seed  is  planted,  or  the  roots  set  in  rows,  directly  over  each 
drain  ;  the  drains  are  then  filled  with  liquid  manures,  such  as  are 
most  favorable  to  their  growth,  and  the  amount  of  these,  and  the 
degree  of  moisture  can  be  very  exactly  regulated.  At  intervals, 
the  liquids  are  drawn  oflF,  or  absorbed,  so  that  the  air  can  circulate 
freely  through  the  drains,  and  supply  the  rootlets  with  oxygen. 
The  result  is  an  increase  of  from  three  to  five  times  the  ordinary 
fertility ;  that  is,  an  acre  ti'eated  in  this  way,  produces  as  much  as 
from  three  to  five  acres,  under  even  a  pretty  high  cultivation ; 
while  in  quality  of  production,  there  is  a  greater  difference  ;  so 
that  the  potatoes,  peas,  melons,  etc.,  grown  in  these  beds  are  kept 
for  seed  ;  and  there  is  a  continual  improvement. 

But  the  manner  in  which  this  work  was  done  ;  its  order,  rapidi- 
ty, and  enthusiasm,  excited  my  special  admiration.  There  was  no 
noise  or  confusion.  Each  group,  working  under  its  chief,  went 
gaily  into  the  contest  of  a  friendly  trial  of  skill  and  power.  There 
was  no  lagging,  and  no  soldiering ;  no  idle  overseers,  and  eye- 
serving  laborers,  anxious  only  to  get,  not  to  earn,  the  day's  wages. 
Every  one  worked, — nay,  far  better,  I  doubt  not,  than  if  the  gar- 


EsPKUAXZA.  269 

den  had  been  for  his  own  exclusive  benefit.  It  was  bold,  hearty, 
springing  work,  which  it  would  have  done  you  good  to  see. 

Eugenia  and  her  little  assistants  were  gathering  the  seeds  of 
some  annual  flowering  plants  ;  and  I  joined  her,  and  helped  the 
work  as  much,  perhaps,  as  I  hindered  it  by  conversation.  I  would 
have  you  know  the  sweetness  of  her  spirit.  It  rests  me,  hke  look- 
ing at  calm  deep  water.  Look  for  nothing  impetuous  in  Eugenia, 
nothing  imposing;  but  expect  a  calm,  beautiful  soul,  in  a  body  as 
calmly  beautiful.  My  feeling  toward  her  is  not  an  attraction  which 
draws  me  to  her,  but  a  frank  and  quiet  acceptance  of  all  her  life 
can  give  to  mine  of  its  fragrance  and  rest.  Her  face  is  not 
strikingly  beautiful ;  but  very  calm  and  sweet ;  and  her  whole 
form,  as  I  have  told  you,  is  of  the  most  harmonious  beauty.  Ev- 
aline  tells  me  that  beauty  in  women  tends  to  the  portions  of  the 
body  commonly  displayed ;  and  that  nature  is  apt  to  slight  what 
our  art  constantly  conceals.  I  recognize  the  principle,  where  there 
are  not  the  conditions  of  integral  development.  The  finest  forms 
in  the  world  are  found  among  people  Avhere  nudity  is  the  fash- 
ion— the  worst  figures  are  among  the  most  carefully  draperied 
civilizees.  Why  should  nature  waste  her  perfections  ?  Those 
who  are  knowing  in  these  matters  tell  me  that  you  may  see  twenty 
pretty  faces  in  Broadway,  to  one  beautiful  form  ;  and  that  very 
handsome  arms  may  be  accompanied  by  other  limbs  of  remarkable 
ugliness. 

But  it  was  not  on  an}'-  such  subject  that  I  conversed  with  the 
beautiful  Eugenia,  as  I  culled  the  seed  bags  of  her  favorite  flowers. 
I  questioned  her  on  a  subject  of  unceasing  interest — the  life  of 
Esperanza  ;  which  I  would  examine  on  every  side  and  through 
every  available  medium. 

"But  my  dear  Eugenia,"  I  said,  "  after  all,  you  must  admit  that 
that  is  a  despotism." 

"  It  would  be  one,  to  whose  strongest  will  was  not  in  harmony 
with  the  pervading  will ;  and  whose  highest  sense  of  right  was 
not  in  accordance  with  our  common  sense." 

"  Nevertheless,  it  is  a  Procrustean  bed  ;  and  the  tall  must  be 
shortened,  and  the  short  drawn  out,  to  suit  its  measurements." 


260  EsPKRANZA. 

"  The  humble  shall  be  exalted,  and  haughty  brought  low." 

"  I  have  no  doubt  that  you  will  find  scripture  for  it ;  every  body 
can  defend  himself  with  a  text.  But  is  it  not  true  that  there  is  a 
great  sacrifice  of  individuality  here  ;  and  an  amount  of  order  re- 
quired, that  is  altogether  unnecessary  ?  "  I  would  have  ruffled 
her  placidity  if  I  could.     She  did  not  even  smile  as  she  answered. 

"  Order,  harmony,  beauty,  truth,  are  terms,  which,  to  me,  are 
synonimous.  I  do  not  find  or  fear  too  much  of  either.  Were  I 
to  allow  my  life  to  fall  into  disorder,  and  become  inharmonic  to 
those  around  me,  all  its  beauty  would  be  marred  ;  it  would  be- 
come false  and  evil  to  me,  and  all  the  deep  happiness  I  now  enjoy 
would  be  at  an  end.  In  this  order  I  find  rest  and  peace.  My  life 
is  useful  and  loveful.  I  am  able  to  give  happiness  to  others,  and  I 
enjoy  all  that  I  am  capable  of  enjoying.     What  more  ?  " 

How  could  I  answer  to  this  what  more  ?  But  I  said — "  Have  you 
no  ambition  to  triumph  ;  no  envy  of  those  who  are  more  dazling, 
more  talented,  more  successful  than  you  —  of  Evaline,  whose  pic- 
ture was  crowned  the  other  night ;  of  Serafa,  whose  poem  was 
applauded  yesterday  ;  of  Melodia,  who  never  sings,  but  they  crown 
her  with  garlands  ?     Is  there  no  pang  in  all  this  ?  " 

She  paused,  and  looked  in  my  eyes  with  a  sad  inquiring  look, 
to  see  if  I  were  in  earnest.  It  was  very  hard,  but  I  kept  on  my 
face  of  cold  inquiry  ;  and  the  tears  came  into  her  eyes  as  she  said  : 

"Are  they  not  my  sisters?  Do  I  not  love  them  ?  Their  tri- 
umphs are  mine.  When  I  see  Evaline 's  pictures  I  feel  as  if  I  had 
helped  to  paint  them.  My  love  is  in  the  life  that  warms  Serafa's 
muse  ;  and  when  Melodia  sings,  every  note  goes  to  my  heart,  and 
I  applaud  her  as  deeply,  if  not  as  loudly,  as  any  of  all  her  ad- 
mirers ;  for  all  here  admire  her;  and  envy  has  no  place  with  us. 
Oh  !  what  an  egotist  do  you  take  me  for  !  I  have  all  of  love  and 
appreciation  that  belongs  to  me.  Would  I  have  more,  or  deprive 
any  other  of  her  rights?  If  these  questions  are  serious,  Mr.  Frank, 
the  falseness  of  the  old  society  has  poisoned  you  more  deeply  than 
T  thought  possible." 

Still  I  would  not  explain. 

"You  are  too  good."  I  said.    "Such  entire  unselfishness  is  un- 


Esi'tUANZA.  261 

natural.  You  have  not  even  a  lover  you  can  call  your  own.  Some 
other  woman  has  an  equal  or  superior  claim  upon  whomsoever  you 
love.  Your  love  life  feeds  en  sufferance,  and  dares  not  assert  its 
rights." 

"  The  rights  of  love,  Mr.  Frank,"  she  answered  with  miraculous 
calmness — with  a  smile  of  tenderness,  ev^en  due,  perhaps,  to  some 
happy  memory,  "  are  not  to  be  asserted.  They  assert  themselves 
in  the  very  power  of  the  attraction,  which  affinity  of  being  pro- 
duces. You  have  to  learn,  perhaps,  that  it  is  not  the  most  bril- 
liant or  beautiful  who  are  most  beloved.  But  what  if  it  were  so  ? 
Where  all  attractions  act  in  freedom,  can  there  be  any  injustice  ? 
In  love,  as  in  all  of  life,  the  true  spirit  asks  only  its  own.  I  would  no 
more  interpose  to  hinder  any  love  from  going  to  another,  than  I 
would  stop  the  sunshine  or  the  breeze.  There  is  but  one  love,  in 
all  manifestations.  If  my  life  is  pure,  and  my  heart  is  right,  I  do 
not  fear  that  I  shall  not  have  all  that  is  truly  mine — and  more  than 
this  would  be  a  death  to  me.  It  would  be  like  the  surplus  manna 
— or  surplus  food ;  or  any  false  and  stolen  thing,  which  we  have 
no  right  to  and  cannot  enjoy." 

'•Pardon  me,  dear  Eugenia;"  I  said,  "I  am  not  so  bad,  per- 
haps, as  these  questions  make  me  seem.  But  I  wish  to  know  how 
your  spirit  accepts  the  spirit  of  the  life  around  us." 

"You  might  have  been  frank  with  me,  then,  and  questioned  me. 
I  would  have  answered  truly.  To  the  disorderly  spirit,  all  order 
seems  despotism.  To  the  excentric  corpet,  the  rounded  orbits  and 
regular  movements  of  the  planets  may  seem  dreadfully  despotic. 
Is  there  any  orderly  and  beautiful  thing  in  the  world,  that  is  not  in 
this  sense  despotic.  The  musician  must  play  his  notes — the  dan- 
cer must  keep  time  and  figure  ;  the  painter  must  be  governed  by 
the  rules  of  his  art ;  the  architect  cannot  wander  off  into  extrava- 
gances, much  less  the  builder;  the  farmer  must  plant  and  gather 
his  crops  in  the  seasons  ;  your  heart  rnust  beat,  and  your  spirits- 
heart  must  love  in  this  sacred  and  universal  order  which  you  call 
despotism. 


In  the  evening  we  had  a  pleasure  quite  new  to  me,  and  which  it 


'Z^i''^  EsPEHANZA. 

is  strange  that  no  one  has  hit  upon  ;  for  it  has  wonderfully  popular 
capabilities.  Mr.  Paul,  besides  his  genius  as  a  painter,  has  a  rare 
faculty  of  telling,  and  also  of  writing,  stories.  Last  night  he  read 
a  new  tale  to  a  full  audience.  It  sparkled  with  wit  and  merriment  ; 
with  turns  of  pathos  that  asked  for  tears.  The  plot  was  of  excit- 
ing interest,  and  the  reading  so  good,  so  adapted  to  all  the  char- 
acters and  incidents,  and  so  accurate  in  bringing  out  all  peculiar- 
ites,  that  the  effect  was  scarcely  less,  and  in  some  respects  greater, 
than  that  of  a  well-performed  play.  It  was  an  artistic  and  beauti- 
ful performance.  I  shall  recommend  to  some  of  our  lecturers,  who 
have  the  talent  for  it,  to  try  this  with  our  Lyceum.  It  only  re- 
quires to  be  well  done  to  be  very  effective — but  it  may  not  be  easy 
to  find  the  requisite  talent  for  such  a  performance. 

Father  Gautier  was  not  able  to  leave  his  room  yesterday.  I  did 
not  see  Harmonia  or  Melodia  last  evening,  nor  have  I  seen  them 
but  for  a  moment  to-day.  Melodia  looked  pale,  but  serene  ;  Har- 
monia worn  with  fatigue.  Still,  every  thing  goes  on  cheerily  as 
usual ;  and  I  cannot  but  hope,  that  spite  of  all  appearances,  I  may 
see  the  good  old  man  enjoying  again  the  sunshine  and  flowers,  and 
the  music  and  dance,  and  the  love  of  his  dear  children. 

As  I  close  my  letter,  Melodia  has  brought  me  a  white  rose. 
"  Send  it  to  your  Clara,"  she  said  ;  "tell  her  that  our  good  Father 
pressed  it  to  his  lips,  and  that,  when  it  reaches  her,  it  will  be 
the  relic  of  a  saint  in  heaven.  She  can  thank  him  there.  Father 
Gautier  sends  with  it  his  welcome  and  his  blessinsr. 


XVIII. 

THE    TRANSITION    OF    DEATH. 

Mr  Clara  : — The  good  old  man,  whose  rose-kiss  and  blessing 
I  have  sent  to  you,  has  gone  from  the  earthly  form,  and  entered 
upon  the  glorious  life  of  the  spirit. 

It  was  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  when  the  bell  tolled  out  its 
signal — the  nine  strokes  that  floated  like  solemn  music  over  the 
domain  of  Esperanza — to  call  his  children  to  take  their  last  look  at 
the  living  form  of  their  revered  and  beloved  father. 

Very  soon  all  had  assembled  in  the  lecture  saloon.  There  was 
an  earnest  solemnity ;  and  some  tears.  But  all  took  their  places, 
as  if  for  a  pre-arranged  ceremony.  They  were  dressed  as  for  a 
festival.  The  musicians  had  their  instruments  ;  the  children  bou- 
quets of  flowers.  They  stood  in  silence,  or  conversed  in  low  mur- 
murs, until  a  door  opened,  and  a  group  entered,  bearing  the  arm- 
chair in  which  Father  Gautier  reclined,  supported  by  pillows.  He 
was  carried  by  Vincent,  Manlius,  Alfred,  and  Angelo  ;  while  Har- 
monia  and  Melodia,  on  either  side,  held  his  hands  and  his  head. 
The  chair  was  set  upon  a  small  platform,  where  all  could  see  and 
hear  him.  It  was  the  old  man's  wish  to  see  his  great,  loving 
family  around  him,  and  to  have  them  near  him  when  he  should 
take  his  departure,  which  he  felt  to  be  close  at  hand. 

He  was  very  pale — so  pale,  that  for  a  moment  I  thought  he  was 
expiring.  It  was  not  so — but  no  one  could  mistake  the  signet  of 
death  set  upon  his  noble  features.  After  a  few  moment's  rest,  in 
a  profound  silence,  broken  only  by  deep  respirations  and  suppres- 
sed sobbings,  while  Vincent  held  his  pulse,  and  Melodia  bathed  his 
temples,  he  revived,  opened  his  eyes  as  from  a  pleasant  dream,  and 
looked  around  with  most  tender,  loving  regards  upon  his  assembled 

203 


264  EsPKUAx/A. 

children.  A  little  girl,  scarce  six  j^ears  old,  on  whom  his  eyes 
rested,  sprang  forward,  kissed  his  hand,  and  gave  him  flowers.  A 
smile  of  more  than  mortal  sweetness  came  into  his  face,  as  he 
whispered  hey  a  benediction. 

The  odor  of  the  flowers  seemed  to  revive  him;  or  was  it  the 
united  magnetism  of  so  many  loving  hearts  that  brought  back 
brightness  to  his  eye,  and  even  a  faint  flush  of  color  to  his  cheeks  ? 

"Music,  dear  friends,"  he  murmured,  "once  more  music.  Mu- 
sic, flowers,  and  love  !"  and  he  turned  his  eyes  on  Melodia,  while 
the  band,  at  a  signal  given  by  Vincent,  played  one  of  the  old 
man's  favorite  airs.  Visibly  he  gained  in  strength  each  moment. 
His  form  dilated ;  his  eyes  grew  more  brilliant ;  it  seemed  as  if  he 
might  rise  from  his  chair.     I  could  not  realize  that  this  was  death. 

He  said  a  few  low  words  to  Melodia.  She  stepped  from  his  side, 
and  besfan  to  sinsr.  But  her  voice  trembled  and  choked  with  her 
emotion.  1  heard  his  clear  voice  then  saying  ."  Courage,  courage  ! 
mafille!"  With  a  strong  effort,  she  subdued  her  feelings,  and 
then  sung  with  a  power  and  pathos  unequalled,  a  song  of  Espe- 
ranza,  supported  by  the  band  in  a  subdued  harmony,  and  a  cho- 
rus of  indescribable  efi"ect,  from  the  voices  of  the  children  who 
joined  in  it. 

Through  my  falling  tears  I  looked  sometimes  at  Melodia,  who, 
in  her  white  robes,  seemed  an  angel,  singing  a  song  of  welcome, 
rather  than  a  mortal,  giving  this  musical  farewell  to  a  parting  soul ; 
and  then  at  the  calm,  happy  face  of  the  dying  father.  When  the 
music  ended  he  sank  back  in  an  entranced  repose  ;  but  revived 
after  a  few  moments,  and  took  the  hand  of  Melodia,  who  was  at 
his  side  again,  and  pressed  it  to  his  lips,  with  murmured  thanks. 

"  Now,  the  dear  children !"  he  said  to  Harmonia ;  "let  me  see 
them  all  once  more,  and  say  good-bye  to  them.  They  gathered 
around  him,  with  their  sad,  tearful  little  eyes. 

"0,  my  darlings  !"  he  said  to  them  in  tones  full  of  tenderness, 
"your  old  father  is  about  to  leave  this  decaying  form,  and  become 
young  again.  He  will  be  lost  to  your  bodily  sight,  but  he  will 
still  be  with  you,  and  love  you,  and  watch  over  you  all.  Do  not 
forget  that  I  shall  be  with  vou,  and  love  and  bless  you.     I  thank 


ESPERANZA.  265 

you,  my  darlings,  for  all  your  love  to  me.  You  have  made  these 
last  years  of  my  life  very  happy.  Heaven  bless  you  all.  Come, 
my  little  ones,  and  take  the  old  man's  parting  blessing." 

They  gathered  around  the  chair  ;  they  knelt  at  his  feet  ;  they 
kissed  his  hand  and  the  garments  that  enveloped  him ;  but  they 
couM  not  speak,  for  their  sobbings  and  tears.  The  old  man  laid 
his  pale  hands  upon  their  heads  and  blessed  them.  Harmonia  led 
tbem  softly  away. 

Even  the  sobbings  were  stilled  in  silence,  as  "with  a  new  energy 
the  old  man  now  beckoned  all  present  to  draw  near.  They  closed 
ai'ound  him  in  the  perfect  order  that  characterizes  every  movement 
here.  Each  one  seemed  to  know  the  place  that  belonged  to  him, 
and  which  no  other  ever  claimed. 

I  fear  to  attempt  to  give  you  even  a  faint  idea  of  the  dying  ut- 
terance of  the  dear  old  man.  I  know  not  whether  it  was  his  voice, 
sounding  from  the  confines  of  eternity  ;  his  countenance,  lighted 
up  by  the  hopes  of  his  near  felicity  ;  or  what  of  place  or  circum- 
stance, made  his  Avords  seem  of  more  than  mortal  eloquence. 

"Brothers,  sisters,  dear  friends  and  children!  my  time  has 
come  when  I  have  the  privilege  of  laying  off  this  mortal  envelop- 
ment, and  putting  on  immortality.  I,  who  have  been  the  happy 
instrument  of  securing  this  earthly  paradise  to  harmony,  have  now 
the  honor  to  be  the  first  called  from  it  to  join  in  the  higher  har- 
monies of  our  parent  society  in  the  heavens.  '  Lord,  now  letteet 
thou  thy  servant  depart  in  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy 
salvation.' 

"0,  friends!  I  have  loved  you  all.  How  can  I  thank  you  for 
your  affection  ?  You  have  made  my  last  days  very  happy.  My 
life  is  bound  up  in  your's,  and  my  spirit  will  never  leave  you. 
Think  of  me  always  with  happiness  and  peace. 

"  My  children  !  I  thank  and  bless  you,  that  your  orderly  obedi- 
ence to  the  revealed  will  of  heaven  has  planted  this  germ  of  har- 
mony upon  the  earth,  and  enabled  me  to  see  the  fruition  of  my 
hopes.  0,  spirits,  who  have  watched  over  this  infant  harmony  in 
the  earth-life,  I  come  to  give  you  joy  of  our  success.     Henceforth, 

0,  friends,  think  of  me  as  a  humble  member  of  that  heavenly 
23 


266  EsPERANZA. 

society,  -whose  instrument  I  have  been,  and  to  whose  glorious  as- 
semblages I  shall  soon  welcome  all  my  children. 

"My  earthly  pilgrimage  is  ended.  My  life  work  is  done.  All 
toils,  all  sufferings,  all  disappointments,  have  found  sweet  compen- 
sations here.  Your  love,  your  fidelity,  your  earnest  labors  to  be 
right  and  do  right,  have  a  thousand  times  repaid  me  for  all.  Do 
not  grieve  for  me  one  moment;  but  give  me  your  rejoicing  sym- 
pathies, for  I  am  now  the  happiest  man  on  earth.  All  my  hopes 
in  this  life  are  accomplished  here,  and  all  the  glories  of  heaven  are 
just  before  me. 

"Rejoice  with  me,  then,  my  children  ;  and  continue  faithful  to 
the  principles  of  a  true  life,  that  you  also  may  cheerfully  welcome 
the  summons  to  the  Life  of  the  Heavens.  You  have  one  feeble 
old  man  the  less  to  care  for  here  ;  but  you  will  soon  have  one  lov- 
ing spirit  the  more  to  watch  over  your  welfare  and  happiness. 

"I  would  gladly  embrace  you  all,  but  my  strength  is  not  suffi- 
cient." 

He  faltered,  and  paused  a  moment.  In  the  hushed  silence,  I 
feared  he  had  gone  ;  but  he  rallied  again,  and  said,  as  he  took  the 
hand  of  Harmonia,  who  knelt  beside  him. 

"  I  bless  the  center  of  your  life  and  love  ;  and  through  this  dear 
one,  I  will  continue  to  bless  you. 

"And  thou,  0  daughter  of  my  heart,"  he  said  to  Melodia,  as 
she  also  bowed  her  head  upon  his  knees,  "  in  blessing  and  thank- 
ing thee,  I  bless  the  life  of  beauty  and  art,  which  makes  this  home 
a  paradise,  and  helps  to  train  all  here  for  the  higher  beauty  and 
more  glorious  art  of  our  life  of  the  future." 

She  rose,  calm  and  radiant,  and  kissed  the  old  man's  brow.  He 
gave  his  hand  to  Vincent,  saying,  "  Well  done,  good  and  faithful 
servant.  Henceforth,  the  old  man  shall  be  far  more  a  help  to  thee, 
than  he  has  been  here.  Forget  not  that  there  is  much  work  yet 
to  be  accomplished.  The  whole  earth — the  whole  race  of  man  is 
to  be  redeemed.  Be  sure  that  we  shall  not  be  idle.  Do  the  work 
that  demands  the  doing.  Friend  of  my  soul,  I  shall  not  forget 
you !" 

In  simple  words,  but  with  a  feeling  that  melted  us  all,  the  old 


EsPERANZA.  267 

man  gave  his  hand  and  said  a  few  words  to  each  of  those  nearest 
to  him.  As  I  stood  near  this  central  group,  his  eye  sought  me, 
and  he  held  out  his  hand  to  me.  I  sprang  and  took  it  in  mine. 
The  grasp  was  full  of  life  and  energy.  It  went  with  a  thrill  to  the 
centre  of  my  being.  It  was  as  if  a  spirit  hand  had  grasped  me. 
The  light  of  his  eye  seemed  to  beam  from  the  portals  of  the  inner 
life.     I  bowed  myself  humbly  to  receive  his  parting  word. 

"And  you,  my  dear  young  friend,"  he  said  ;  "you  join  me  to 
the  world  to  be  redeemed.  Go  forth  and  do  the  work  to  which 
you  are  called.  Work  in  truth,  in  fidelity,  in  obedience,  and  the 
work  will  be  blessed.  Never  lose  faith  in  the  goodness  of  God 
or  the  destiny  of  man.  Devote  all  to  this  work,  and  all  shall  be 
yours.  Providence  has  brought  you  here. — Go  forth,  and  be  the 
instrument  of  its  beneficient  purposes.  A  poor,  old,  dying  man, 
yet  rich  and  happy  beyond  expression,  blesses  you,  and  those  to 
whom  you  are  sent,  with  the  blessings  of  rest  and  peace. 

"  God  bless  you  all — farewell. 

"  Once  more,  your  voices,  dear  friends  ;  let  me  once  more  hear 
the  music  that  I  love." 

They  sung — voices  breaking  through  sobs  ;  voices  trembling 
with  emotion  ;  voices  choking  with  love  and  grief.  Still  the  beau- 
tiful harmonies  struggled  and  triumphed ;  and  as  the  chorus  rose 
full  and  clear,  the  reverend  head  sank  back  ;  the  eyes  closed ;  a 
radiant  smile  of  unspeakable  haj)piness  illumined  his  features ; 
and  when  the  last  notes  had  died  away,  the  spirit  had  left  its  tene- 
ment of  clay  ;  borne  on  the  waves  of  that  harmony,  it  had  entered 
the  haven  of  eternal  rest. 

Vincent  listened  for  his  breath  ; — it  was  gone.  He  felt  for  his 
pulse  ;  the  last  flutter  had  died  away.  He  pressed  down  the  eye- 
lids of  the  corpse,  and  said  : 

"  Dear  Friends  : — Our  beloved  and  revered  father  has  breathed 
his  last.  Maj'  we  all  be  as  faithful  in  our  lives,  and  die  as  liappily 
Let  us  hail  the  entrance  of  his  freed  spirit  into  the  triumphant  har- 
monies of  the  heavens." 

The  band  struck  instantly  into  a  triumphal  march,   so   full,  so 


268  ESPERANZA. 

grand  in  feeling,  that,  instead  of  shedding  tears  of  grief,  all  were 
joyful  in  the  spirit's  triumph. 

Then  they  softly  bore  the  body  away. 


I  wish,  in  this  letter,  to  tell  you  all  that  relates  to  this  first  ex- 
perience of  Death  in  Esperanza.  As  I  went  out  upon  the  lawn,  I 
saw  a  pure  white  flag,  flying  at  half-mast  from  the  central  tower. 
Groups  were  scattered  in  the  walks  and  groves,  in  serious  conver- 
sation. Angela  came  and  held  out  her  hand  to  me.  The  traces 
of  tears  were  on  her  eyelids. 

"  You  are  very  sorrowful,"  I  said. 

"  Oh  !  the  dear  good  father  !"  she  exclaimed,  the  tears  bursting 
out  afresh,  "  I  am  a  fool,  but  I  can't  help  it.  He  has  gone  to  the 
beautiful  world,  and  I  am  glad  for  him.  It  is  best  for  him  and 
all ;  but  I  shall  miss  the  dear  old  man  so  much.  You  don't  know 
what  a  gallant  lover  he  has  been  to  me.  He  has  taught  and  told 
me  so  many  things  ;  and  such  a  dear,  young,  loving  heart,  that 
never  grew  old.  He  was  as  young  in  his  feelings  as  I.  We  all 
loved  him,  dearly.  And  now  we  will  give  him  such  a  pretty 
place  ;  his  body  I  mean.  I  suppose  it  is  of  very  little  conse- 
quence to  him  ;  but  we  must  revere  all  that  was  ever  partaker  of 
his  life." 

At  the  sunset  parade,  a  noble  dirge  was  followed  by  a  triumphal 
hymn,  representing  the  sorrows  and  toils  of  earth  contrasted  with 
the  glories  of  heaven.  And  through  it  all  the  bell  tolled  out  its 
mournful  cadences,  minute  guns  boomed  over  the  waters,  fired 
from  the  little  fort,  and  the  steamer  Fairy.  All  these  mannifes- 
tations  seemed  the  fitting  and  needful  expressions  of  the  feelings 
of  this  bereaved,  saddened,  but  yet  most  happy  family. 

The  usual  amusements  of  the  evening  were  suspended.  There 
were  no  public  meetings,  nor  songs,  nor  dances ;  not  that  they 
were  felt  to  be  improper,  but  that  all  were  absorbed  in  reflections 
upon  the  event,  or  in  preparations  for  the  funeral.  A  group  of 
joiners  was  employed  upon  a  coffin ;  I  went  with  another,  by  torch 
light,  to  a  beautiful  knoll,  covered  with  trees,  and  flowering  shrubs, 
kept  as  a  future  burying  place,  and  where  the  first  grave  was  now 


ESVERAKZA.  269 

to  be  opened  on  the  very  centre  of  its  summit ;  a  spot  which 
Father  Gautier  had  long  looked  upon  as  his  body's  final  resting 
place.  While  this  grave  was  preparing,  a  Utile  group  was  arrang- 
ing the  order  of  the  funeral. 

When  all  had  been  accomplished,  Melodia  invited  me  to  join 
them  in  the  beautiful  room  of  Harmonia,  which  I  have  described 
to  you.  Can  you  conceive  this  cheerful,  yet  solemn  meeting. — 
There  was  not  one  sob  of  anguish,  nor  one  sigh  of  regret ;  and 
not  one  of  these  loving  friends  would  have  recalled,  had  they  the 
power,  the  spirit  of  their  beloved  father.  Their  feeling  was  more, 
like  a  deep  and  chastened  joy,  than  a  subdued  sorrow. 

After  conversing  a  while  upon  the  life  and  character  of  their 
departed  friend,  in  which  his  merits  and  deficiencies  were  brought 
out  with  singular  impartality  ;  all  joined  hands,  and  sat  in  silence. 
After  a  few  moments,  Harmonia  placed  a  black  scarf  over  her  eyes, 
and  fell  into  that  condition  of  spiritual  clairvoyance,  in  which  the 
scenes  of  the  inner  world  are  revealed  to  those  in  whom  thia 
faculty  is  developed. 

After  a  few  moments,  she  said.  "  I  see  a  group  of  our  friends, 
but  Father  Gautier  is  not  with  them.  Ah,  now  he  comes.  A 
very  lovely  woman  is  leading  him  forward.  He  is  dressed  in  a 
white  robe,  with  a  blue  girdle,  and  in  his  hand  is  a  bouquet  a  flow- 
ers. It  is  he  ;  I  know  him  perfectly  ;  and  yet,  how  changed  he  looks  ! 
He  has  lost  all  marks  of  age.  If  you  can  fancy  him  at  forty,  but 
more  beautiful  than  he  ever  could  have  been — the  ideal  of  himself 
» — that  is  the  way  he  looks.  As  he  comes  forward,  Fourier  opens 
his  arms  to  embrace  him.  "  Welcome,  my  brother,"  he  says, 
"Welcome  from  the  germinal  harmony  of  earth,  to  the  developed 
and  still  increasing  harmonies  of  heaven  !"  The  angelic  being 
who  accompanied  him,  and  who  so  often  came  to  him  here,  seems 
more  beautiful  than  ever,  and  inexpressibly  happy.  Our  friend 
comes  near  and  looks  smilingly  upon  us  ;  he  kisses  me  upon  the 
head — ^Melodia  on  the  cheek.  He  wishes  to  speak  to  us.  He 
says  :  "  You  see  that  I  was  right,  friends.  You  were  very  good 
to  me,  and  I  was  very  happy  :  but  this  is  better.  I  can  here  help 
the  unfolding  of  your  future.     You  have  but  begun.     Not  for  an 


270  EsPERA^ZA. 

hour  must  you  be  satisfied  with  present  achievement.  Progress 
is  the  law  of  being  ;  continual  development,  continual  unfolding. — 
I  am  drawn  to  you  strongly,  and  feel  that  I  shall  be  able  to  influ- 
ence you  more  than  those  who  have  not  been  in  so  close  a  relation 
to  you  in  your  present  life.  This  is  my  chosen  and  appointed 
work." 

"  Will  our  father  say  whether  he  is  satisfied  with  our  arrange- 
ments for  his  funeral  ?"  asked  Vincent. 

"  He  puts  on  such  a  droll  look,"  said  Harmonia.  "He  says, 
'You  need  not  take  much  trouble  with  that  old  body  of  mine,  or 
any  of  my  old  clothes.  Do  what  satisfies  yourselves  in  the  doing. 
Lay  the  old  case  quietly  away,  and  think  of  me,  henceforth,  not  as 
I  was,  but  as  I  am.  Let  me  come  to  you  often  ;  for  I  can  do  you 
good  in  many  ways.'  " 

The  seeress  took  the  bandage  from  her  eyes,  and  in  a  moment 
resumed  her  usual  appearance.  Many,  even  at  this  day,  would 
think  all  this  a  deception  or  an  illusion.  No  one  here  questions  its 
entire  reality,  or  doubts  that  the  good  Father  still  lives — still  loves 
his  children,  and  has  this  power  of  manifesting  himself  to  and 
through  those  who  are  fitted  to  be  the  mediums  of  such  mani- 
festations. 

In  the  morning  we  were  waked,  not  as  usual,  by  the  music  of 
the  band,  but  by  the  steam  organ  of  the  Fairy  ;  whose  powerful 
tones  filled  the  whole  air  with  melody.  The  cannon  again  fired, 
and  the  bell  rung,  tolling  no  longer,  when  we  assembled,  after  the 
morning  ablutions.  I  saw  that  all  wore  the  dress  of  ceremony. — 
The  great  festal  banner  floated  mast  head  high,  its  golden 
stars  glittering  in  the  beams  of  the  rising  sun.  The  fountains 
were  all  at  play,  flashing  rainbows.  The  emulous  birds  poured 
out  their  melodies,  and  sweet  perfumes  filled  the  air.  The  Fairy 
was  decked  in  all  her  streamers,  steaming  in  proud  circles  round 
the  lake,  and  sending  over  all  the  scene  her  grand  harmonies. 

And  there,  upon  the  lawn,  stood  the  funeral  pall ;  not  gloomed  in 
black,  but  covered  with  a  pure  white  drapery,  with  white  plumes, 
and  garlands  of  flowers.  These  were  no  weeds  of  woe — but  all 
tokens  of  the  honors  of  victory.     Our  friend  has  fought  the  battle 


EsPERANZA.  271 

of  life,  and  has  come  off  a  conqueror.     Why  mourn  ?  We  did  not. 
It  "was  a  festival  of  solemn  joy. 

After  the  morning  hymn,  the  Order  of  the  Day  was  read  by 
Vincent,  as  follows  : 

"  We  will  now  deposit  the  remains  of  our  good  and  glorified 
Father  Gautier  in  the  place  appointed. 

"After  the  morning  repast,  all  will  resort  to  their  usual  industry 
for  the  appointed  hours. 

"  The  dinner  will  be  a  festival  of  commemoration. 

**  The  afternoon  will  be  observed  by  a  cessation  of  industry,  and 
thoughtful  communion  on  the  progress  and  perfection  of  our  life. 

"  Supper  in  groups  at  pleasure — a  festival  of  friendship. 

"  In  the  evening,  commemorative  music  and  discourses. 

"  Henceforth,  the  birth-day  of  Father  Gautier  is  to  be  celely*- 
ted,  with  honors  second  only  to  those  awarded  to  Fourier." 

The  procession  formed  as  if  by  enchantment.  Without  a  word 
of  command  or  a  perceptible  signal,  all  fell  into  a  fitting  order  of 
march.  The  music  went  before  the  coffin  ;  the  children,  all 
dressed  in  white  and  blue,  with  bouquets  of  flowers,  walked  on 
each  side  ;  our  little  group  followed,  and  then  all  the  groups  in  a 
beautiful  order.  The  bell  rung,  the  cannon  pealed,  the  Fairy  poured 
forth  her  grand  harmonies  ;  then  our  band  struck  up  a  triumphal 
march,  whose  words  were  sung  by  group  after  group,  in  chorus, 
as  we  moved  along  a  flower  bordered  walk,  through  fields  and 
groves,  to  the  mound  of  burial. 

Here  the  coffin  was  opened,  and  all  passed  around  it  and  took  a 
last  look  at  the  placid  features,  so  calm  and  noble,  of  this  man, 
who  had  had  the  great  good  fortune  to  devote  himself  and  all  he 
had  to  the  realization  of  his  idea  of  a  true  life  ;  aud  who,  in  this 
work,  and  this  success,  has  achieved  more  glory  than  a  hundred 
conquerors. 

The  coffin  was  lowered  into  the  grave.  Vincent  stood  at  its 
head,  and  pronounced  a  few  eloquent  sentences,  such  as  the  occa- 
sion demanded — befitting  the  obsequies  of  a  true  philanthropist. 
All  were  gathered  around  the  open  grave  ;  and  though  it  thus  far  had 
been  ?.  festive  triumph  rather  than  a  funeral, — there  were  here  some 


272     '  Esl•ERA^'ZA. 

soba  and  tears.  The  childen  came  forward,  many  of  them  weep- 
ing, and  threw  their  flowers  upon  the  old  man's  coffin.  Then  the 
earth  was  filled  in,  the  mound  raised  above  it,  and  on  it  planted 
with  taste  and  care,  roses,  lilies,  and  other  fragrant  flowers,  that  tlie 
wasting  body  might  pass  in  lovely  forms,  and  sweet  odors,  back  to 
its  native  elements  from  the  realm  of  death. 

All  this  was  in  the  fresh  morning  hour  ;  and  as  our  work  was 
accomplished,  the  bell  rung  out  its  last  peal ;  the  cannon  roared 
among  the  echoing  woods  ;  the  Fairy  filled  the  heavens  with 
music.  All  returned,  without  special  order,  and  conversing  cheer- 
fully, to  breakfast ;  then  the  festal  costume  was  laid  aside,  and  the 
morning's  industry  begun. 


While  others  labored,  in  their  varied,  changing,  and  ever  attrac- 
tive industry — in  work  which  is  enobled  by  its  uses — I  have  writ- 
ten these  pages  to  you,  0  Clara  mine ;  trying  to  give  you  some 
faint  impression  of  the  scene  around  me.  I  had  barely  finished 
when  the  first  signal  for  dinner  was  given  ;  and  I  remembered  that 
it  was  to  be  a  fectival  of  more  than  ordinary  solemnity,  so  I  dressed 
with  cave  ;  and  when  I  entered  the  saloon  I  found  it  draped  and 
decked  with  surprizing  elegance.  The  tables  were  ornamented 
more  profusely  than  usual,  with  vases  of  flowers. 

When  all  had  eaten,  Vincent,  sitting  at  the  right  haiui  of  Har- 
monia,  at  the  table  of  her  group,  arose  and  gave  the  first  toast : 

"  Honor  and  gratitude  to  the  memory  of  our  good  Father  Gau- 
tier  !  " 

This  sentiment  was  repeated  aloud,  at  the  table  of  every  group, 
and  was  drank  with  appropriate  music. 

No  more  toasts  were  given  ;  and  all  went  out  upon  the  lawn, 
and  made  up  the  groups  or  parties  for  the  afternoon. 

In  the  evening  all  assembled  in  the  theatre.  Many  tasteful 
hands  had  been  at  work  in  its  decoration  for  this  occasion.  No 
work  is  slighted  here.  It  is  a  spontaneous  expression  of  life — an 
energy  that  always  seeks  employment.  And  while  the  artistic 
groups  had  spoken  to  the  eye,  our  musical  friends  had  prepared  a 
repast  for  the  ear,  so  worthy  of  the  occasion  as  to  satisfy  us  all, 


ESPERANZA.  273 

The  favorite  airs  of  Fatlier  Gautier,  and  those  associated  with  his 
life  here,  were  woven  in  a  harmonic  wreath  to  deck  his  memory. 
I  shall  not  give  you  a  report  of  the  speeches.  They  also  were 
fully  up  to  the  requirements  of  the  occasion.  Vincent's  was  his- 
torical. Many  contributed  anecdotes  of  the  good  man ;  or  gave 
expression  to  the  gratitude  all  felt  to  him.  Harmonia  paid  a  deli- 
cate tribute  to  his  aflfectionateness  and  love  of  children  ;  but  it  was 
left  to  Melodia  to  speak  the  crowning  and  the  parting  words. 
They  were  words  which  melted  the  whole  assembly  in  tears ;  and 
all  went  forth  filled  with  new  strength,  new  hope,  and  new  resolu- 
tions, to  move  onward  to  the  achierement  of  the  highest  of  human 
possibilities,  in  the  truest  life  that  can  be  enjoyed  on  earth,  as  the 
foretaste  and  preparation  for  the  life  of  eternal  progress  and  happi- 
ness in  the  Heavens. 


XIX.  0 

RELIGION. 

Dear  Clara  :  The  solemnization  of  death  ;  the  near  view  of 
eternity  ;  the  passing  away  of  that  noble,  loving  spirit,  full  of 
courage,  full  of  hope,  and  an  unshaken  faith  in  its  immortal  des- 
tiny, could  not  fail  to  turn  my  thoughts  to  our  relations  with  the 
unseen  world.  I  wished  to  know  more  of  the  religious  faith  of 
those  dear  friends,  whose  earthly  life  seems  to  me  a  heaven  begun, 
and  which  has  only  to  continue,  under  improved  or  progressing 
conditions. 

I  sought  then  an  interview  with  one  I  thought  best  capable  of 
giving  me  light :  I   sought  Harmonia.    . 

"  I  come  to  be  instructed,"  I  said,  seating  myself  on  the  cush- 
ion she  laid  for  me  beside  her  feet,  and  kissing  the  little  white 
hand  she  extended  to  me. 

**  You  should  go  to  men  for  knowledges,"  she  answered,  smil- 
ing. "  It  is  their  speciality.  Women  feel  and  love  ;  they  seldom 
reason,  or  know  much.  They  have  wisdom,  perhaps ;  but  not 
much  science,  usually.  I  reason  very  little  —  what  I  know, 
comes  to  me  by  other  channels  than  those  of  logical  deduction." 

"What  I  wish  to  inquire  about,  belongs  more  to  faith  than 
reason,  it  is  commonly  thought,"  I  said.  "  I  wish  to  be  informed 
more  definitely  of  your  religious  views." 

In  all  my  intercourse  here,  thus  far,  no  effort  has  been  made  to 
convert  me  to  any  dogma.  There  was  no  anxiety  that  I  should 
believe  as  they  do,  or  that  I  should  even  know  what  they  believe. 
But  now  that  I  had  come  with  my  demand,  the  supply  was  cheer- 
fully accorded. 

"  Tiie  history  of  our  race,"   said  Harmonia,  ''shows  the  exist- 
ence and  develooment  of  the  Religious  Sentiment.     A    higher, 
274 


EsPERANZA.  275 

purer,  better  life,  present  and  future,  is  the  universal  aspiration. 
Whatever  form  it  may  take,  this  is  religion  ;  and  however  varied 
in  its  manifestation,  or  erroneous  in  its  dogmas,  it  is  the  same  sen- 
timent in  all.  It  is  the  spirit  of  man  seeking  its  unity  with  the 
Infinite  Life  and  Love.  Ideas  of  God  and  Immortality  are,  there- 
fore, universal ;  and  even  when  hidden  under  gross  and  sensual 
forms  and  creeds,  have  yet  their  own  truth  and  life. 

"  We  understand  by  God,  the  Life,  Spirit  and  Infinite  Unity  of 
Universal  Existence  ; — the  universal  synthesis ; — the  soul  that 
lives  in,  and  not  apart  from,  all  nature.  It  is  '  God  working  in  us, 
both  to  will  and  to  do,  of  his  own  good  pleasure.'  God  in  the 
flower.  God  in  the  stars.  Life,  soul  and  being  of  all  things. 
The  sum  of  all  intelligences  and  all  loves.  The  heart  and  brain 
life — the  love  and  wisdom  of  all.  In  this  God,  'we  live,  and 
move,  and  have  our  being.'  It  is  not  a  God,  outside  and  apart 
from  us,  but  the  God  is  in  us  and  we  in  him.  '  I  and  my  Father 
are  one.' 

"  Prayer  is  the  aspiration,  striving,  and  eflfort  for  completeness 
of  unity  with  this  Infinite  Heart  and  God  of  all  Harmony.  It 
may  be  uttered  in  words,  or  manifested  in  deeds,  or  enter,  as  with 
us,  into  the  whole  life. 

"  And  this  life,  so  far  as  it  is  a  true  one,  is  worship.  Every 
true  act,  which  is  in  harmony  with  the  Divine  Spirit,  is  an  act  of 
faith.  Thus,  we  '  glorify  God  in  our  bodies  and  our  spirits, 
which  are  his.'  Thus,  '  whether  we  eat  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  we 
do,  we  do  all  to  the  glory  of  God.'  We  endeavor  to  live  in  His 
life,  in  its  holiness  or  wholeness.  Thus  are  we  godly  or  God-like 
just  so  far  as  we  live  in  the  harmony  of  a  true  life. 

"  There  is  an  axiom  in  mathematics — one  of  those  simple,  self- 
evident  statements,  so  simple  that  they  seem  at  first  needless  to  be 
said,  but  which  yet  contain  universes  of  truth.  It  is  this : 
'  Things  which  are  equal  to  the  same  thing,  are  equal  to  each 
other.'  You  smile — but  we  have  found  that  just  in  proportion  as 
we  bring  ourselves  to  the  order,  equilibrium  and  harmony  of  the 
Divine  Life,  just  in  that  proportion  do  we  find  ourselves  in  unity 
with  each  other. 


276  EsVERAKZA. 

"As  our  God  is  in  all  the  universe  of  things — the  life  and  love 
of  all  beings,  we  find  our  truest  worship,  prayer  and  praise,  in 
bringing  ourselves  into  that  harmony  of  being  and  life  which 
unites  us  with  the  material  and  spiritual  world ;  which  is,  truly, 
the  God  in  us — God  manifest  in  the  flesh. 

''  We  accept,  you  will  perceive,  the  internal  significance,  and 
even  the  outward  expressions,  of  the  popular  forms  of  religious 
doctrine.  God  is  to  us  the  sum  and  substance  of  all  being — the 
universal  unity  of  thought  and  life.  Christ  is  God  manifest  in  the 
flesh — God  in  humnnity.  And  this  God,  in  his  human  form,  is 
he  not  poor,  despised,  buffetted,  spit  upon,  and  in  all  times  cruci- 
fied ?  And  shall  he  not  rise  to  a  true  life,  and  govern  the  earth  in 
the  spirit  of  Love  ?  We  truly  believe  in  the  regeneration  of  this 
new  birth,  and  in  the  redemption  of  our  race  by  the  constant 
operations  of  this  Holy  Spirit. 

"  Our  religion  is  not  an  intellectual  speculation.  It  lives  in  our 
life.  It  is,  so  we  esteem  it,  the  religion  which  God  everywhere 
teaches  in  the  heart  of  man,  and  which  can  be  found  under  all 
forms  of  expression,  myth,  creed  and  ceremony.  All  sacred  scrip- 
tures, all  symbols,  all  prophecies  contain  it.  The  human  soul 
aspires,  struggles,  agonizes  for  its  unity  with  the  Divine  or  Uni- 
versal Life.  It  seeks  to  be,  and  to  express  that  being,  in  the  unity 
of  Nature,  and  the  unity  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the  bond  of  peace. 

"  We  believe  in — rather,  we  enter  into  the  very  reality  of — im- 
mortality. We  are  as  certain  of  the  continued  existence  of  our 
spirit  friends,  as  of  our  own  present  life.  Material  forms  are  for- 
ever changing;  but  through  these,  the  spiritual  identity  is  never 
lost,  but  goes  on,  forming  ever  new  and  higher,  and  more  compre- 
hensive unities,  in  the  great  God-Life,  of  which  every  spirit  forms 
a  part — the  center  of  centers,  and  the  soul  of  souls. 

"  I  could  give  you  our  faith  in  the  form  of  almost  every  creed. 
Thus  we  can  say :  '  I  believe  in  the  Holy  Catholic  Church,  the 
Communion  of  Saints,  and  Life  everlasting.'  The  Holy  Catholic 
Church  is  the  unity  of  all  human  souls,  who  aspire  for  a  life  of 
truth,  and  holiness — wherever  they  may  be,  or  by  whatever  name 
they  are  called.     The  Communion  of  Saints  is  this  partaking  of 


EsPERAKZA.  277 

a  common  life  ;  this  holy  communion  of  all  the  good,  iu  earth  and 
in  the  heavens.  And  Life  everlasting  is  in  our  consciousness,  as 
surely  as  the  God  that  worketh  in  us  can  never  die. 

"  We  seek  to  embody  this  Life  and  Spirit  of  God  in  all  forms  of 
use,  and  beauty,  and  harmony.  In  our  persons  ;  in  our  food  ;  in 
our  dress ;  in  aW  our  thoughts  and  feelings ;  in  our  industry ;  in 
our  art ;  in  poetry  ;  in  music ;  in  the  measured  movement  of  the 
dance  ;  and  in  the  holiest  acts  of  love  in  which  we  give  new  forms 
to  the  Divine  Humanity,  ever  seeking  its  incarnation,  ever  flowing 
into  hio-her  and  siill  hijAer  forms  of  life. 

o  o 

"  Religion,  then,  which  literally  means,  that  which  binds  again  ; 
religion,  as  an  expression  of  the  sentiment  of  aspiration  to  unity 
with  the  Universal,  the  Infinite,  the  Divine;  is  that  which  binds 
us  in  our  harmony,  and  which  animates  all  our  life  and  work. 
It  is  no  external  theory  ;  no  cold  form  ;  no  fearful  doing  of  duties. 
It  is  our  life's  life.  We  began  our  preparation  for  this  work  with 
the  motto  given  by  St.  Ignatius  to  the  Company  of  Jesus  :  Ad 
Majorem  Dei  Gloriani — To  the  Greater  Glory  of  God.  That 
greater  glory  we  have  :^ought,  in  the  development  of  all  our  facul- 
ties, and  their  harmonization  with  the  Infinite  Life  ;  and  just  so  far 
as  this  work  was  achieved  in  us  individually,  just  so  far  did  we 
find  ourselves  in  a  beautiful  and  loving  harmony  with  each  other ; 
until  it  brought  us  to  be  'all  of  one  accord  in  one  place' — all 
attuned  to  the  same  harmony. 

"  Religion,  therefore,  as  we  understand  it,  and  as  it  finds  being 
and  expression  in  our  lives,  is  the  harmonizing  influence — the 
toning  power.  It  is  the  sacred  bond  that  unites  men  to  each 
other.  Whatever  unity  has  been  attained  in  human  societies,  has 
come  from  the  influence  of  the  religious  sentiment.  There  has 
been  no  organization,  or  approach  to  organization  among  men,  of 
which  some  manifestation  of  the  religious  nature  of  man  has  not 
been  the  center  and  soul.  All  else  is  selfish,  isolate,  discordant, 
tending  every  hour  to  dissolution.  Boodhism,  Brahmism,  Juda- 
ism, Islamism,  Catholicism — all  human  unities  or  fragments  of 
unities,  are  bound  together  by  this  common  bond,  in  the  life  of 
humanity.     Religion  gave  its  life  to  Chivalry  ;  it  was  the  soul  of 


270  ESPERANZA. 

Free  Masonry  in  the  palmy  days  of  that  institution ;  it  gives  what- 
ever vitality  they  possess,  to  all  our  benevolent  societies,  and  all 
existing  institutions.  Strange  as  it  may  seem  to  you,  the  real  bond 
and  vitality  of  the  institution  of  Slavery,  is  in  the  religious  senti- 
ment. It  is  not  the  fetter  and  whip,  it  is  not  greed  of  power  and 
gain,  that  holds  millions  in  bondage.  It  is  a  religious  feeling  of 
responsibility  and  duty,  in  master  and  slave.  The  Russian  marches 
on  death,  at  the  command  of  the  Czar,  because  this  Czar  is  to  him 
the  representative  of  God.  In  the  name  of  God  and  his  Prophet, 
the  Mussulman  flashes  his  cimeter  on  the  foe.  The  simple  faith 
of  the  Mormon  is  the  strong  bond  of  his  rude  Theocracy.  Every- 
where, men  submit  to  '  the  powers  that  be,'  only  so  far  as  they 
believe  them  to  be  'ordained  of  God.' 

"  As  there  is  in  all  this  universe  but  one  Life,  in  all  its  myriad 
forms;  one  God,  in  the  aspiration  of  all  faiths;  one  Love,  in  the 
yearnings  of  all  hearts  for  their  appointed  unities :  so  there  is 
but  one  Religion,  and  one  Church.  All  colors  and  shades  of 
colors  blend  in  one  pure  element  of  light.  All  tones  blend  in  one 
pure  unison  of  sound. 

"  You  ask  our  faitli.  It  is  the  theory  of  our  life.  You  have 
seen  our  life  ;  it  is  the  practice  of  our  faith.  Wherever  faith 
and  works — the  theory  of  life  and  its  practice — are  in  harmony, 
there  is  a  life  of  order,  peace,  love  and  unity.  In  all  the  discord- 
ant societies  of  civilization,  p  ople  preach  and  profess  one  thing, 
and  teach  and  practise  the  reverse.  The  religion  comes  not  into 
the  life.  Faith  without  works  is  dead.  Works  without  faith  are 
soulless  corpses.  The  true  life  and  the  true  religion  for  every  man, 
is  to  live  up  to  his  higliest  idea  of  right — to  have  all  being  and  all 
doing  in  harmony  Avith  those  heaven-born,  God-inspired  aspira- 
tions and  strivings  of  the  spirit  for  the  highest  and  truest  life  of 
the  earth  and  the  heavens. 

"  The  records — the  scriptures  of  this  One  Religion — the  canons 
of  this  Holy  Catholic  Church,  are  scattered  everywhere.  In 
Prophecy  and  Psalm  ;  in  Oratory  and  Poetry  ;  in  Music  and  Art ; 
in  whatever  breathes  the  spirit  of  excelsior,  from  the  rudest  to  the 
most  refined,  every  expression  of  human  luve  and  aspiration  is  the 


EsPERANZA.  279 

word  of  God.  It  lives  ia  the  Bible,  and  in  all  religious  writings ; 
in  Jeremy  Taylor  and  Thomas  a  Kempis ;  in  Jesuit,  Puritan,  and 
Infidel ;  in  Shakspeare  and  Milton,  Shelley  and  Byron,  Tasso 
and  Goethe  ;  as  well  as  in  all  the  Fathers  of  all  Churches.  So 
we  find  the  brethren  of  our  faith  in  all  communions.  We  are, 
heuce,  tolerant  of  all,  finding  the  good  in  all,  and  rejoicing  in  the 
progress  of  all.     This  is  our  aU-compreheuding  faith. 

"But  what  a  sermon  I  have  preached  you  !  I  feel  the  interest 
and  importance  of  the  subject.  It  is  very  important  that  you  be 
clear  in  this  central  matter,  and  know  what  you  must  do  to  be 
saved.  We  were  educated  in  various  creeds.  Some  were  Roman 
Catholics,  like  our  good  Father,  who  has  just  left  the  form  ;  some 
were  protestants  against  that  church ;  and  some  against  all 
churches.  Now  we  have  all  come  to  the  same  unity  of  faith,  and 
the  same  harmony  of  works." 

"  There  is  that  in  my  spirit,"  I  said,  "which  lovingly  accepts 
of  all  you  have  told  me.  '  Thy  people  shall  be  my  people,  and 
thy  God  my  God.'  But  there  are  still  dogmas  of  the  church,  or 
the  sects,  of  which  you  have  not  explained  the  significance." 

"  Well,  you  shall  question  me.  Perhaps  I  may  be  able  to  ex- 
plain them." 

"  For  example,  the  doctrine  of  Hell  ?  " 

"  Is  it  not  another  name  for  disorder,  with  which  the  lower  side 
of  humanity  is  ctirsed,  and  into  which  all  are  cast,  who  do  not 
come  into  the  regeneration  of  a  true  life  ?" 

"And  Purgatory?" 

"  Is  it  not  a  period  of  transition,  purification,  and  preparation  for 
a  life  of  harmony  ?  " 

"And  the  Devil?" 

"What  but  a  bold  personification  of  discord  and  evil  ?  As  all 
spiritual  harmonies  and  unities  find  synthesis  in  the  grand  unity 
of  an  Infinite  God,  so  may  all  evils  center  in  a  Spirit  of  Discord, 
Strife,  and  Hate." 

"Will  you  explain  my  old  stumbling  block  of  predestination  ?" 

"As  the  magnet  separates  the  atoms  of  iron  from  the  sand,  so 
does  the  divine  Truth  seek  out  and  draw  to  its  embrace  all  who 
o.-o  flf+o^  tf\  vof>oive  it." 


2S0  Esperanza. 

"  And  he  that  believe th  not  shall  be  damned  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  is,  and  shall  be.  He  that  believeth  not  in  the  Divine 
Humanity,  shall  remain  in  error,  discord  and  misery." 

"  And  do  you  accept  the  Sacraments  ?  " 

"  Verily  ;  in  all  the  richness  of  their  spiritual  significance." 

"  Baptism  ?  " 

"  With  water  the  holy  man  affiliates  a  soul  to  heavenly  unities. 
Have  "we  not  moreover  our  daily  baptism  to  purity  of  life  ?  " 

"And  the  Eucharist?" 

"  We  who  eat  purely,  discern  the  Lord's  Body.  And  the 
bread,  blessed  by  the  ministration  of  our  guardian  angels,  may  it 
not  become  ordered  into  the  Divine  Life  ?  You  know  that  a  glass 
of  water  magnetized  by  or  through  a  healing  circle,  may  become 
potent  to  cure  disease.  May  not  the  bread  and  wine  of  this  sacra- 
ment, blessed  in  a  true  order,  become  so  divinized  ?  These  are 
for  those  who  need  them.     Deny  them  not." 

"  And  the  sacrament  of  marriage  ?  " 

"  None  of  all  so  desecrated  and  profaned  !  The  union  of  man 
and  woman  in  the  life-o-ivinar  act,  should  be  the  most  sacred  and 
divine  of  all  unities.  It  is  m  this  that  men  and  women,  in  a  truly 
consecrated  union,  enter  most  into  the  life  and  work  of  God. 
Such  marriage  is  a  sacrament.  Working  through  ignorance, 
error,  discord,  and  with  'a  wicked  and  adulterous  generation,'  the 
church  has  done  the  best  she  could  to  preserve  its  purity.  She 
has  taken  her  priesthood  and  holy  orders  into  a  vestal  life,  and 
placed  bounds  to  sensualities,  by  such  marriage  as  the  masses  were 
fitted  to  receive.  Let  us  not  blame  the  church.  '  She  hath  done 
what  she  could.'  " 

"But  yet,"  I  said,  after  all  these  beautiful  explanations,  you  do 
not,  that  I  see,  adhere  to  these  forms  and  ordinances  of  the 
church." 

"Are  they  now  needful  to  its  ?  Need  we  make  formal  prayers, 
whose  life  is  one  prayer  ?  Need  we  now  special  sacraments  of  the 
eucharist,  who  live  in  the  life  of  the  Lord  ?  Shall  we,  whose  lives 
are  so  ordered  and  harmonized  as  you  have  seen,  still  do  those 
things  which  were  useful  in  bringing  us  out  of  disorder?     We 


ESPERANZA.  28 1 

know  that  we  have  only  to  live  in  the  true  order  of  life,  and  all  the 
blessings  will  flow  in  upon  us,  that  we  have  capacity  to  receive. 
Shall  we  now  say  to  one  another,  *  know  the  Lord  ;  when  we  all 
know  him,  from  the  least  unto  the  greatest  ?  '  Religrous  ordinan- 
ces  were  instituted  as  helps  to  the  divine  life.  They  are  for  those 
who  need  them.  They  would  be  for  us — confession,  penance,  and 
redeeming  grace — should  any  of  us  fall  into  disorder  and  sin." 

I  have  given  as  faithful  a  report  as  I  am  capable  of  giving  of  this 
conversation.  It  seems  to  me,  at  once  stragely  mystical,  and  not 
less  strangely  real.  I  find  an  acceptance  in  my  spirit  which  sur- 
prizes me.  You  know  how  little  I  have  thought,  for  years,  of  all 
these  things.  It  is  true  that  I  have  recognized  the  existence  and 
the  manifestations  of  the  religious  sentiment ;  but  I  have  never 
looked  into  the  dogmas,  or  sacraments  of  the  church  for  interior 
meanings.  Our  Swedenborgian  friends  find  a  spiritual  significance 
in  what  seem  to  me  very  meaningless  scriptures.  I  have  never 
been  able  to  comprehend  their  correspondences.  But  what  shall  I 
say  of  these  expositions  of  Harmonia,  made  with  great  earnestness 
and  solemnity  ?  I  can  say  nothing.  Even  while  they  beem  to 
appeal  to  reason,  they  transcend  reason.  What  I  do  see  is,  that 
this  life  is  all  purity,  all  beauty,  all  harmon3^  The  disuse  of  re- 
ligious forms  may  seem  a  kind  of  Phatyseeism  ;  but  I  know  that 
there  is  a  most  earnest  aspiration  here,  for  a  higher,  and  s-till 
higher  life  ;  and  wherever  there  is  aspiration,  there  must  be  humil- 
ity. The  religious  element  still  works  upward,  but  it  is  a  trium- 
phal progress,  not  a  dark  struggle  with  disease  and  sin.  If  this 
may  be  called  a  church  it  is  not  the  church  militant,  but  the 
church  triumphant. 

I  see  that  the  faith  of  uncounted  millions  of  men,  through  hun- 
dreds of  generations,  must  have  in  it  great  elements  of  truth  and 
good.  I  apply  this  saying,  not  to  one  faith,  but  to  all  faiths  and 
forms  of  faith,  and  I  see  that  they  differ  mostly  in  names.  I  see  that 
there  is  but  one  religion.  When  will  narrow  sectarians  embrace 
the  great  catholic  doctrine  announced  by  the  apostle  Peter?  "  Of 
a  trutli,  I  perceive  that  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons  ;  but  in 
every  nation,  he  that  feareth  him,  and  worketh  righteousness,  is 
24 


282  EsPtRA^zA. 

accepted  with  him."  Here  is  an  end  to  all  bigotries  of  creeds  and 
nationalities.  Here  all  meet,  on  this  common  platform  of  human- 
ity— and  this  is  the  basis  of  the  true   "  Holy  Catholic  Church." 

"  Your  religion  is  sublime, "  I  said,  "in  its  doctrines,  and  beau- 
tiful in  its  manifestations.  Has  this  faith,  also,  its  recorded  scrip- 
tures ?" 

She  laid  her  hand  on  two  beautiful  volumes  on  her  center  table. 
One  was  a  Greek  Testament,  the  other  a  Latin  copy  of  the  Imita- 
tion of  Christ  of  Thomas  a  Kempis.  She  took  a  flower  from  a 
vase  and  gave  it  me,  and  touched  the  spring  of  her  music  box, 
which  played  a  jubilant  melody.  I  was  answered.  We  sat  in 
silence  until  the  sweet  music  was  done,  when  she  said: — 

"Our  scriptures  are  recorded  in  all  the  universe.  We  also  have 
our  written  word.  Here,  "  she  said,  taking  a  small  manuscript 
volume  from  her  table,  "  is  the  record  of  some  of  the  Lessons 
which  have  been  given  to  us,  from  our  friends  in  the  world  of 
spirits.     Read  them  as  you  will.  " 

"  Can  I  copy  them  also  ?"  I  asked,  wishing  you  should  partake 
of  all  the  good  that  came  to  me. 

"Assuredly:  these  are  but  transcripts,  put  in  our  poor  human 
words,  of  what  the  Divine  Spirit  hath  gloriously  written  every 
where,  in  all  the  manifestations  of  His  infinite  life." 

I  copy  for  you,  dear  Clara,  a  few  of  these  scriptures. 

"Each  ultimate  atom  has  its  corresponding  soul-life,  and  conse- 
quent intelligence.  Aggregations  of  atoms  have  a  discordant  soul- 
life, — associations  of  atoms  have  a  harmonic  associated  soul-life.  " 

"  The  great  heart  of  Humanity  has  ever  truth  in  its  instincts." 

"  Only  as  each  is  true  to  himself  or  herself,  can  they  be  of  use 
to  another.  Heed  this,  for  it  is  the  central  principle  of  the  new 
gospel. 

"  The  circulation  in  a  body  is  the  condition  of  life  to  that  body.     . 

"  The  life  is  more  or  less  perfect,  according  to  the  mode  or  form. 

"  The  law  of  unimpeded  circulation  is  the  law  of  life,  in  all 
forms,  and  modes,  of  whatever  degree  of  perfection. 

"The  hand  of  the  weak  man  must  obey  his  will — the  hand  of 
the  strong  man  can  do  no  more. 


EsfERAAZA,  283 

"  The  strength  of  the  heart,  and  the  wisdom  of  the  head  can 
only  be  demonstrated  by  perfect  obedience. 

"  It  is  not  by  erratic  action  that  the  one  gets  power  and  the  other 
light. 

"  The  heart  and  head  of  a  man  and  of  a  society  must  be  correc- 
ted by  consequences  wrought  out  in  obedience,  and  not  by  disord- 
ered acts  and  efforts. 

"  Fragmentary  action,  be  it  ever  so  wise  in  itself,  is  not  for  a 
body.  Obedience  is  for  a  body,  and  a  society  ;  and  consequences 
are  the  only  correctives.  If  there  cannot  be  a  perfect  and  orderly 
obedience,  then  there  is  not  unity  ;  and  the  part  that  is  extraneous 
or  parasitic  is  to  be  cutoff." 

"  The  Divine  Humanity  is  the  sphere  of  Creative  Unities. 

"The  sun  is  a  correspondential  expression  from  this 

"Humanity  corresponds  to  the  sun — ^being  a  simultaneous  ex- 
pression. 

"  Out  of  both  these  expressions  comes  the  form  human. 

"As  the  spirit  is  to  the  soul,  so  is  the  Divine  Humanity  to  the 
Humanity.  As  the  soul  to  the  body,  so  is  the  individual  man  to 
the  Humanity. 

"  In  the  ascending  scale,  forms  become  one  with  the  Humanity  ; 
and  the  humanity  is  absorbed  again  into  the  Divine.  The  oned  or 
united  forms  graduate  to  the  sun.  The  last  is  the  absorption  into 
the  divine,  whence  there  is  no  direct  communication  with  the  earth 
Hfe." 

"  Humanity  is  one ;  and  contempt  is  for  the  young,  the  partial, 
and  immature.  " 

I  send  to  you  these  few  passages,  my  Clara,  that  you  may  see 
something  of  the  form  of  these  revelations.  Many  of  them,  given 
during  the  period  of  germination  or  preparation,  were  instructions 
for  that  period.  These  seem  to  me,  wise  with  a  most  heavenly 
wisdom.  They  carry  in  themselves,  to  me,  the  best  proof  of  their 
supernal  origin.  And  here  is  the  proof,  also,  in  the  work  accom- 
plished. 

Is  Esperanza  of  heaven,  or  of  man  ? 

I  accedt  it  as  an  out-birth  of  the  Life  of  the  heavens. 


XX. 

THE  ORDKR  AND  THE  WORK. 

My  Blessed  Clara  : — In  a  few  days  more,  all  the  power  of 
mighty  steam  will  be  bringing  me  to  you.  I  shall  glide  down  the 
Mississippi  to  New  Orleans ;  then  home  by  gulf  and  osean,  taking 
one  look  at  beautiful  Cuba.  I  have  never  been  at  saa,  and  I  want 
this  experience.  We  shall  just  dip  into  the  tropics.  I  will  find 
you  some  fluit  at  Havana.  We  will  sail  along  the  gulf  stream. 
Then,  some  bright  morning,  or  soft  evening  perhaps,  we  shall  steam 
up  the  Narrows,  and  I  shall  see  the  green  glories  of  the  Battery — 
pride  of  every  New  Yorker,  and  after  a  brisk  walk  up  Broadway, 
hold  you  to  my  heart  once  more,  after  this  long,  long  absence. 

I  wrote  you  yesterday  of  the  Religion  of  Esperanza.  There  are 
u®  temples  here,  consecraied  to  divine  worship ;  but  the  whole 
place  seems  a  temple  for  a  sincere  and  beautiful  manifestation  of  a 
deeply  religious  life.  Or,  I  may  say,  that  all  places  here  are  so 
consecrated.  The  theatre  is  a  school  of  virtue.  There  is  no  dissi- 
pation in  the  ball  room.  Life  is  so  ballanced  in  use,  and  beauty, 
and  enjoyment,  that  every  part  is  good.  No  man  here  cheats  his 
neighbors  and  plunders  the  poor,  or  wastes  his  life  and  riches,  six 
days  in  the  week,  and  then  goes  through  forms  of  devotion  on  the 
seventh.  So  far  as  I  can  see  or  judge  there  is  an  entire  unity  of 
faith,  feeling,  and  work  throughout  this  little  Republic. 

And  this  word  Republic,  brings  me  to  the  subject  of  its  Govern- 
ment, or  the  exterior  bond  of  orderly  relation  which  its  members 
have  with  each  other.     How  shall   I  define  it?     It  is  not  a  Dem- 
ocratic Republic,  in  our  understanding  of  the   term  ;  and  yet  the 
584 


EsPKRANZA.  285 

will  of  the  people  is  the  only  law  ;  perhaps  I  should  rather  say, 
that  tiie  will  of  each  individual  is  in  harmony  with  the  spirit  or 
law  of  the  movement.  The  whole  society  seems  like  a  body  per- 
forming its  functions,  and  controlled  by  its  central  life  or  motive 
power.  There  is  no  goverment  of  majorities,  for  there  is  no 
minoriiy.  All  move  as  one,  in  a  perfect  unanimity.  There  is 
little  or  no  discussion — none,  in  the  sense  of  contentious  debate  ; 
tliere  are  no  elections  ;  each  one  performing  his  function  or  office 
by  the  common  consent.  You  might  call  it  a  Theocracy,  but  no 
orders  are  given  with  the  authoritive  sanction  of  "  Thus  saith  the 
Lonl."  The  society  has  grown  from  its  germinal  group,  by  the 
gradual  addition  of  members,  or  groups  of  members  ;  and  the  cen- 
tral group,  all  harmonious  in  itself,  has  been  the  harmonizing 
power  to  h11  other  groups  or  members.  And  there  has  never  been, 
that  I  can  learn,  any  question  of  leadership  or  authority.  The 
principles  and  laws  of  the  life,  and  its  true  order,  are  recognized 
by  all.  All  cottf  jrm  to  this  order  from  the  least  to  the  greatest. 
Thus  all  are  equal  before  the  law.  This  law  of  order,  which 
belongs  to  the  life  of  the  movement,  requires  leadership  of  those 
who  are  gfted  with  the  requisite  qualities.  It  demands  co-opera- 
tion, and  obedience  of  all.  The  law  of  obedience,  stated  in  one  of 
the  scriptures,  copied  in  my  last  letter,  demands  that  all  be  true  to 
the  life  and  its  order. 

In  the  beginning,  and  while  they  were  passing  through  the 
novitiate,  and  the  period  of  education  and  discipline,  it  was  conve- 
nient that  this  order  of  life  should  be,  to  some  extent,  expressed  in 
Vv'ritten  rules  ;  since  there  were  so  many  habits  of  disorder  to  be 
reformed,  and  so  many  temptations  to  irregularity  and  evil.  The 
record  of  these  rules  remains  for  future  use  ;  but  in  the  smooth, 
perfected  working  of  the  society  at  present,  they  are  like  the  in- 
struction books  and  finajer  exercises  of  the  beginner  in  music,  to 
the  pL'rfected  musician. 

You  will  understand  it  by  this  analogy.  Time,  effort,  pains, 
were  required  to  learn  to  play  ;  but  when  the  mind  learned  to  read 
the  wiit'en  music,  and  the  will  had  learned  to  give  it  expression, 
and  the  musoU-s  all   obeyed  the  will,  how  easy  and  beautiful  to 


28G  Esi'iiUANzA. 

produce  those  harmonies  of  sound,  li  is  just  so  with  tliis  life.  It 
is  not  merely  easy  for  these  dear  friends  to  be  good,  unselfish,  in- 
dustrious, orderly,  loving,  and  beautiful  in  all  things ;  but  it  is  the 
free,  spontaneous,  habitual  expression  of  all  their  life  and  thought. 
There  is  no  more  motive  or  temptation  for  them  to  do  any  disorderly 
act,  than  there  is  for  you  to  make  discordance  instead  of  music, 
when  you  sit  down  to  the  piano-forte  ;  or,  which  may  be  a  still 
better  comparison,  than  a  player  in  an  orchestra  has  to  mar  the 
harmonies  of  the  music  that  he  loves. 

The  central  life  takes  hold  of  and  receives  love  and  wisdom  from 
the  life  of  the  hearens,  and  all  are  recipients  of  this  loving  life,  both 
individually,  and  through  the  established  order.  If  you  believe 
that  the  Divine  flows  through  the  spirit  spheres  into  the  heart  life 
of  this  society,  then  you  may  consider  its  government  Theocratic. 
To  an  external  observer,  who  should  see  its  beautiful  and  perfect 
order,  it  would  seem  a  despotism.  The  law  of  this  life  is  as  des- 
potic as  the  controlling  forces  of  the  planatary  systems — as  despotic 
as  the  life  that  forms  the  petals  of  a  flower.  All  harmonic  move- 
ment is  orderly,  and,  in  the  idea  of  many,  order  is  despotism. 

This  life  is  orderly — it  is  harmonic  ;  but  where  is  the  despot? 
It  is  not  Vincent.  He  humbly  does  his  appointed  work.  It  is  not 
Harmonia.  She  is  but  the  humble  medium  of  the  spirit  spheres. 
Is  the  despotism  in  the  heavens  ?  The  suggestions  of  their  guar- 
dian spirits  M\  as  gendy  as  the  dews.  The  growing  plant  might 
as  well  complain  of  the  despotism  of  sunshine  and  shower. 

On  the  spiritual  plane  of  life,  there  is  no  longer  need  of  outward 
force  or  harsh  and  arbitrary  rule.  When  every  one  says  in  his 
deep  heart,  "  the  will  of  God  be  done,"  how  is  there  any  longer 
need  of  law  ?  The  old  forms  have  vanished.  The  society  lives, 
from  its  own  spontaneous,  ordered  life.  It  is  no  longer  a  machine, 
operated  by  an  external  force.  It  is  not  a  mechanical  automaton, 
but  a  living  body,  animated  by  a  living  soul. 

But  if  there  is  any  power  which  guides  and  governs,  restrains 
and  punishes,  it  is  the  power  of  a  pervading  love,  which  binds  all 
here  into  the  unity  of  one  body.  I  have  said  that  religion  was  the 
bond  of  this,  as,  in  some  form,  it  must  be  that  of  all  vital  societies. 


EsiPERANZA.  287 

But  I  can  see — can  almost  feel,  the  threads  of  a  nervous  system, 
which  finds  its  center  in  the  heart-life,  and  binds  all  hearts  in  a  net 
work  so  sensitive,  that  every  jar  must  be  felt  by  every  member. 

The  sentiment  of  love,  developed  in  all  the  freedom  of  this  life, 
must  reach  every  heart,  and  be  with  every  one  a  powerful  motive. 
You  can  imagine  the  influence  this  must  give  to  a  woman  like 
Melodia — who  is  so  admired,  adored  and  loved,  perhaps  I  might 
say,  by  all.  Such  a  love  is  a  sacred  bond  to  purity  and  order  of 
life.  And  those  who  love  her  are  also  beloved  by  others,  and  so 
on.  There  is  no  point,  where  any  individual,  man  or  woman, 
could  do  any  wrong,  without  the  violation  of  this  sentiment.  It 
holds  every  one  to  duty,  honor,  and  an  orderly  obedience,  not  to 
an  isolate,  despotic  will,  but  to  the  principles  of  the  ordered  life. 

This  government  then  is  the  self-government  of  each  individual, 
who,  by  his  conformity  to  a  central  principle  or  life-law,  is  in  har- 
mony with  every  other.  As  each  one  seeks,  finds,  and  happily  per- 
forms the  function  for  which  he  or  she  is  fitted,  there  is  order  without 
force,  and  subordination  without  oppression.  As  far  as  I  can  see, 
every  person  here  occupies  precisely  the  place  he  should,  in  his 
own  fitness,  and  in  his  relations  to  others. 

And  if,  from  want  of  numbers,  or  variety  of  capacity,  or  lack  of 
development  in  any,  there  were  danger  that  any  function  would  be 
unfulfilled,  then  comes  in  the  principle  of  devotion  to  the  welfare 
of  others  and  the  general  good.  This  heroic  principle  is  always 
active,  always  seeking  expression.  There  is  no  work  so  great,  or 
so  difficult,  that  it  would  not  attempt  and  accomplish.  There  is  no 
one  here,  however  hard  and  selfish  he  may  have  been,  or  might 
now  be,  in  the  scramble  and  contest  of  civilization,  who  would  not 
sacrifice  everything,  and  perform  everything,  for  the  life.  As 
there  is  no  one  here  who  would  not  face  danger  and  death  for  the 
common  defence,  so  there  is  no  one  who  would  not  cheerfully  do 
any  thing  required  of  him,  in  the  spirit  of  the  life. 

Were  it  deemed  duty  for  Esperanzato  send  out  missionaries,  there 
is  no  one  who  would  not  leave  all  the  love  and  beauty  of  this  Home, 
and  encounter  all  the  hardbhips  of  the  world,  to  spread  the  truths 
of  this  Gospel  of  Harmony.     Even  the  mormons  can  send   out  a 


2G8  EsPERAiV/.A. 

huuJred  missionaries  at  a  time,. without  purse  or  scrip,  to  go  to 
the  four  corners  of  the  earth  with  their  new  dispensation.  You 
will  not  expect  less  devotion  here.  The  missionaries  of  the  Society 
of  Jesus  for  three  hundred  years  have  marched  bravely  through 
torrid  heats  and  polar  frosts  to  martyrdom.  Surely  the  missiona- 
ries of  social  redemption  would  not  be  less  heroic. 

We  had  last  night  an  example  of  the  spirit  of  order  and  enthu- 
siasm which  is  here,  not  in  momentary  awakenings,  as  we  have 
seen  it,  but  as  a  perpetual  spring  of  action.  An  hour  after  mid- 
uio-ht,  when  all  but  the  watch  were  in  profound  repose,  the  large 
bell  of  the  tower  rung  ©ut  an  alarum.  In  an  instant,  while  I  sprang 
to  the  window  to  see  what  was  the  cause,  but  where  I  met  only  dark- 
ness, I  heard  the  rush  of  many  feet  ;  then  came  a  burst  of  light 
from  twenty  torches,  held  by  as  many  boys,  which  lighted  up  the 
whole  scene.  I  hurried  on  my  clothes  and  went  out  upon  the 
lawn.  It  was  an  alarm  of  fire  ;  but  there  was  not  one  cry  of  fear 
or  symtom  of  confusion.  Every  one  was  in  his  place.  Some  were 
on  the  roofs  ;  some  at  windows  ;  some  were  ready  with  ladders. 
Hose  was  attached  to  the  hydrants  leading  from  the  large  reser- 
voir ready  to  deluge  any  portion  of  the  buildings.  All  stood  ready 
for  the  sifj-nal,  every  man  in  his  place — every  woman  also  in  hers  ; 
the  children  all  provided  for.  But  soon  the  bell  sounded  a  few 
strokes  ao-ain  ;  when  the  hose  and  ladders  were  removed,  the  torches 
extino'uished,  and  all  retired  to  their  rooms  again,  and  Esperanza 
reposed  in  peace. 

It  was  an  alarm  of  discipline — a  test  of  order.  I  was  rich  i:i 
the  feeling  of  security  which  this  spectacle  gave  me.  It  was  an 
organized  earthly  providence.  How  many  hundreds  of  precious 
lives  might  have  been  saved,  within  our  remembrance,  lost  on 
burning  ships  and  steamboats,  by  such  a  discipline.  Had  the  sig- 
nal been  one  of  outward  danger,  as  that  of  the  attack  of  an  armed 
foe,  or  a  mob,  the  whole  military  force  of  the  home  would  have 
mustered  with  the  same  silent  celerity,  and  in  the  same  orderly 
energy.  It  is  a  cominunity  of  peace,  never  attacking  any,  even  by 
words  ;  but  ready,  to  the  last  heart  throb,  to  defend  itself  from  all 
aggression.     !  t  is  a  community.  I  venture  to  say,  that  no  mob  would 


ESPERANZA.  2.^9 

ever  think  of  attacking  ;  and  an  organized  force  would  not  do 
it  without  first  counting  the  cost,  and  having  a  powerful  motive. 
Of  all  this  there  is  little  fear  ;  yet  a  watchful  foresight  guards 
against  all  contingencies. 

I  said  there  were  no  elections.  When  there  is  any  thing  to  be 
decided,  involving  no  principle,  and  which  does  not  call  for  the 
exercise  of  wisdom,  it  is  left  to  chance  or  destiny.  If  two  persons, 
equally  qualified,  aspire  to  the  same  function  in  which  but  one  can 
serve,  it  is  decided  by  lot.  For  example,  some  arduous  of  hazardous 
work  is  to  be  performed,  requiring  but  one,  and  half  a  dozen, 
equally  capable  volunteer  to  do  it.  He  or  she  who  has  the  over- 
siglit,  or  who  gives  the  order  of  the  day,  either  selects  the  one  to 
perform  the  work,  as  an  honor  for  some  special  merit,  or  they  draw 
lots.  This  is  the  end.  Those  who  draw  blanks  congratulate  the 
one  who  has  the  prize,  and  aid  him  in  every  way  in  their  power. 

There  are  other  privileges,  decided  in  the  same  manner.  There 
is  a  certain  number  of  horses  ready  for  harness  or  saddle  ;  and  if, 
at  any  time,  more  wish  (o  ride  than  there  are  horses  for  this  use, 
they  draw  for  them.  Then  it  often  occurs  that  some  of  those  who 
draw  make  presents  of  their  rights  to  others.  Generosity  is  con- 
stantly seeking  for  its  exercise  and  satisfaction.  Benevolence  is 
the  rule  ;  and  selfishness,  in  its  hard,  isolate,  grasping  spirit,  does 
not  exist,  or  is  not  developed  in  any  outward  manifestation 

My  most  manly  friend,  Alfred,  whose  reliability  you  would  feel, 
like  that  of  a  block  of  granite  ;  whom  you  would  trust  utterly, 
every  where  and  in  all  circumstances,  exercises,  I  doubt  not,  as 
much  power  as  any  one  here  ;  but  it  is  a  power  that  is  never  seen. 
Melodia  leans  upon  him  ;  and  though  she  may  be  his  guide  in 
ma  y  things,  his  judgment,  in  all  practical  matters,  must  have 
great  weight,  because  it  ought.  Manlius  holds  the  balance  of 
justice,  and  is  the  universal  referree,  wherever  there  is  any  doubt 
of  right — but  I  am  assured  that  he  is  oftener  appealed  to  by  those 
who  believe  they  have  more  than  equity,  than  by  any  who  fancy 
they  have  less.  Vincent  silently,  modestly,  and  with  unceasing 
industry  works  out  the  common  welfare,  by  common  consent. 

Where  all  are  right,  there  must  be  unanimity.     Where  all  are 


290  ESPERANZA. 

agreed  in  regard  to  the  principles  and  laws  of  a  movement,  and  all 
are  devoted  to  a  single  object,  there  must  be  harmony.  Where  the 
interest  of  each  individual  is  the  interest  of  all,  and  the  welfare  of 
all  is  consistant  with  the  highest  happiness  of  each,  there  can  be 
no  clashing  discordance  or  clamor  of  strife.     Darling,  it  is  here  1 

"  Was  it  always  so  ?  "  I  asked  of  Vincent,  at  the  conversation 
of  to-day  ;  for  he  gives  me  this  hour,  every  day,  with  an  unvary- 
ing punctuality. 

"  No — not  always.  A.  few  years  ago,  we  were  civilizees,  living 
in  all  the  errors  and  discordances  of  civilization.  We  cheated  and 
robbed,  or  were  cheated  and  robbed,  like  the  rest.  We  were  social 
Ishmaels,  our  hands  against  every  man,  and  every  man's  against 
tts.  We  bought  cheap  and  sold  dear,  without  regarding  equity. 
We  were  excited  about  politics,  and  mingled,  more  or  less,  in  all  its 
clamor  and  strife.  We  disputed  matters  of  philosophy,  religion, 
economy  and  moials.  Out  of  all  this  discord  we  were  obliged  to 
graduate,  and  old  habits  of  thought  and  feeling  are  not  easily  laid 
aside.  But  when  the  principles  and  methods  of  the  harmonic  life 
were  presented  to  us,  we  rose  above  the  plane  of  strife.  We  had 
henceforth  but  one  combined  interest,  and  one  harmoneous  work. 
We  left  the  Old  to  fight  its  own  battles." 

"And  did  all  come  readily  into  the  idea  and  practice  of  this 
new  life  ?  " 

"  By  no  means.  Many  were  with  us  for  a  time,  and  even  very 
earnest  and  enthusiastic,  and  then  fell  away.  Selfish  appetites, 
selfish  loves,  selfish  graspings  of  gain,  took  away  some  who  seemed 
to  run  well  for  a  season.  With  others,  enthusiasm  tended  to  vari- 
ous insanities.  It  was  putting  new  wine  into  old  bottles.  But  no 
one  was  ever  thus  severed  from  us  without  good  reason.  In  the 
earliest  and  hardest  struggle,  when  our  numbers  were  fewest,  and 
the  persecuting  clamors  of  the  world  around  us  the  most  malig- 
nant, not  one  fell  away  unless  by  some  ftiult  of  character,  that 
would  have  made  him  unfit  for  our  life.  We  did  not  have  one 
trial  too  many  ;  nor  was  one  taken  from  us  whom  we  could  have 
retained  without  injury. 

"  In  a  great  work,  many  tools  are  broken  and   thrown   aside,  or 


ESPERANZA.  29 1 

tried  and  found  worthless,  and  yet  the  work  goes  on.  Many  seeds 
are  germless  or  destroyed  ;  yet  the  great  forests  are  planted. 
Those  only  were  lost  to  us  whom  the  work  could  spare  ;  and 
every  instance  of  falling  away  from  our  life,  we  saw,  after  a  time, 
if  not  at  first,  was  a  special  providence.  Each  gave  us  some 
needed  lesson,  or  help  for  a  time,  and  was  no  doubt  repaid  in  some 
good  to  himself.  There  were  wintry  sea-ons  and  days  nf  darkness, 
but  nothing  was  lost,  and  I  knew  every  hour  that  the  end  was 
sure." 

"  Was  the  trial  and  discipline  severe  ?  " 

"  You  may  not  think  it  so — but  it  was  sufficient.  Purity  and  de- 
votion were  required  of  all.  The  chastity  of  an  entire  continence 
and  the  accf^ptance  of  the  law  which  limits  the  amative  expression 
to  its  most  integral  u-^e,  were  not  easily  conformed  to  by  people 
sunk  in  habits  of  sensuality.  By  this  requirement  we  were  severed 
from  all  self  seeking  sensualists,  who  demanded  freedom,  only  for 
the  satisfaction  of  their  morbid  lusts.  Our  simple  diet  repelled 
those  who  were  dominated  by  a  coarse  and  excited  alimentiveness. 
Our  devotion  of  all  we  were  and  had  to  this  object  found  no  sym- 
pa'hy  with  either  the  self  indulgent  or  the  miserly.  You  Avonder 
how  we  found  so  many  as  we  have.  You  know  that  it  was  said 
that  God  has  always  a  remnant.  There  were  seven  thousand  who 
had  never  bowed  the  knee  to  B^ial ;  and  though  ten  men  could  not 
be  found  to  save  Sodom,  that  was  an  exceptional  case.  Truths  are 
in  or  under  these  old  forms.  Amid  all  the  selfishness,  disease, 
folly,  and  perveri^ity  of  mankind,  there  are  always  those  who  are 
noble,  pure,  wise,  and  full  of  the  aspiration  of  a  true  holiness. 
We  found  our  own — they  passed  sweetly  through  the  trials  of  the 
transition  period,  and  h^-re  we  are,  and  here  is  our  Home." 

"  Beautiful  home  !  "  I  exclaimed,  as  we  paused  in  our  ride  on 
the  brow  of  a  little  hill  which  overlooked  all  the  fair  prospect  of 
fields  and  orchards,  groves  and  vineyards,  happy  groups  of  indus- 
trious workers,  lovely  forms  of  architecture  glancing  among  the 
trees,  and  the  silver  mirror  of  this  sylvan  lake  ;  "all  beautitul  I 
Oh  !  that  men  could  know  what  this  life  might  be  !  Is  there  no 
way  to  teach  them." 


292  ESPERAXZA. 

"  The  millions  who  have  no  power  to  live  this  life,  and  who  would 
never  make  the  sacrifices  of  their  miserable  and  debasing  pleasures 
to  attain  it,  cannot  be  saved.  They  must  die  in  their  sins.  If 
you  have  a  mission  to  present  our  life  to  the  world,  you  may  find 
some  who  will  accept  it,  and  be  ready  to  pass  through  the  needed 
preparation.  It  is  only  thus  that  they  can  come.  We  can  say,  in 
solemn  earnestness,  '  strait  is  the  gate  and  narrow  is  the  way  that 
leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it.'  Those  who  are 
dominated  by  a  morbid  benevolence  will  exclaim  against  us,  for  not 
opening  wide  our  doors,  and  inviting  all  this  poor,  maimed,  halt 
and  blind  humanity  to  anter.  It  is  a  social  suicide  we  can  in  no 
wise  commit.  Discord  cannot  come  into  our  harmony.  Whoso 
cannot  accept  our  life,  our  life  rejects.  We  can  have  no  fellowship 
with  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness.  Those  who  come  here 
must  be  the  tried  and  trusty  ;  and  these  are  few.  Nevertheless,  go 
seek  them  if  you  will,  and  in  your  own  way.  It  has  been  our  ex- 
perience in  the  past,  that  many  were  called,  but  few  were  chosen. 
I  use  these  phrases,  because  they  were  learned  in  my  earliest 
years,  and  because  they  express  my  meanings.  I  also  think  them 
mystically  prophetic  of  our  life." 

"  I  owe  you  many  thanks,  and  I  feel  a  deep  gratitude,"  I  said 
from  my  heart,  "  for  all  your  instructions.  In  a  few  days,  I  must 
leave  you,  and  all  I  love  here,  to  go  back  into  the  world,  and  pre- 
pare to  come  to  the  home  you  offer  me.  Should  my  representations 
oj  this  life  induce  others  to  wish  to  join  me,  will  you  tell  me  what 
is  reqiiired  of  qualification  aird  preparation  ?  " 

"Yes,  it  is  proper  that  you  have  these  requirements  well  defin- 
ed. The  demands  of  our  life  are  not  unreasonable,  I  think,  but 
they  are  imperative. 

"Youth  is  to  be  preferred  to  age,  and  health  to  disease  ;  long 
formed  habits  are  often  hard  to  break,  and- diseases,  not  only  diffi- 
cult of  cure,  but  always  a  burthen,  and  sometimes  worse.  As  all 
must  begin  as  children  or  pupils,  in  a  novitiate,  there  must  be  in 
them  the  essential  qualities  of  humility  and  obedience.  It  was 
understood  as  far  back  as  Solomon,  that  there  is  more  hope  of  a 
fool,  than  of  a  man  wise  in  his  own  conceit.     There   must  also 


EsPERANZA.  293 

be  a  willing  and  cheerful  surrender  of  the  isolate  and  individual 
selfishness,  or  there  can  be  no  attainment  of  the  laro-er  o-oods  of 
the  associate  and  harmonic  life.  He  who  grasps  his  hand  tightly 
on  a  dime,  cannot  receive  the  dollar  that  is  oflPered  him.  There 
must  be  a  giving  up  of  the  selfish  life,  in  regard  to  both  material 
and  spiritual  riche-, — and  an  entire  devotion  of  all  one  is  and  has 
to  the  life.  This  is  to  be  shown  in  little  things  as  in  great  ones. 
All  other  loves  must  be  subordinate  to  the  central  and  harmonic 
love,  which  includes  all  others. 

■'  You  are  to  be  clear  and  stringent  as  to  all  habits  of  life,  and 
rules  of  discipline.  There  must  be  purity  of  person,  food,  and  life. 
He  or  she  who  cannot  pass  through  the  novitiate  of  a  pure  vesta- 
late,  is  not  for  our  life.  Men  and  women,  who  held  each  other  by 
the  bonds  of  law  and  custom,  cannot  come  to  us.  They  must  be 
as  the  angels.  There  can  be  no  filth  of  tobacco,  and  all  habitual 
stimulants  must  be  abandoned.  There  must  be  the  capacity  for  a 
steady  industry.  The  idle,  lazy,  voluptuous  and  self  indulgent 
are  not  for  us.  There  must  be,  in  every  novitiate,  a  constant,  ear- 
nest, and  orderly  effort  for  the  development  of  all  faculties.  When 
chastity  has  stopped  the  waste  of  life  ;  when  energy  comes  from 
these  pure  and  invigorating  habits,  it  is  needful  that  this  new  life 
be  used  to  the  last  atom,  in  the  work  of  development. 

"You  have  seen  our  life,  and  know  something  of  its  require- 
ments. We  can  trust  you  to  judge  who  is  qualified  to  live  it  here. 
But  a  time  of  trial  and  preparation  is  needed  for  all.  You 
have  the  impulse  to  gather  a  group  or  groups,  who  are  wortliy  to 
come  to  us  and  enjoy  our  life.  Well — the  trial  is  before  you.  All 
good  angels  nid  you  in  your  work." 

Yes,  my  Clara,  I  must  make  the  efibrt.  Surely,  we  know  some 
who  may  be  redeemed  out  of  this  sad  discordance  of  the  world 
we  know,  and  its  hollow  shams.  What  have  we  ever  found  in 
what  is  called  society,  but  pretension,  stupidity,  egotism,  and  sel- 
fish intrigues.  We  have  seen  the  best — and  how  poor  it  is  !  A 
few  kernels  of  wheat  in  b'ishels  of  chaff — some  grains  of  gold, 
lost  amid  heaps  of  tinsel  and  brass.  How  many,  in  all  the  circle 
of  our  acquaintance,  should  we  be  sorry  never  to  see  again  !  And 


294  ESPKKANZA. 

the  terror  of  it  is,  that  the  purest  are  so  soon  corrupted  into  sel- 
fishness. The  tender  loving  girl  who  "  comes  out,"  all  beauty 
and  sweetness,  how  a  few  seasons  change  her  into  a  cold,  heart- 
less, selfish  coquette  ;  a  husband-hunter.  Pride  or  indolence, 
or  ambition,  or  disappointment,  destroy  all  that  is  beautiful  in  her 
spirit,  and  she  is  ready  to  sell  herself  like  the  rest. 

Are  there  not  some,  whom  we  can  rescue  from  such  a  wretched 
fate  ?     We  will  at  least  make  the  trial. 

And,  darling  one,  even  the  best  side  of  this  life  of  civilisation — 
how  poor  it  is.  Suppose  one  of  these  lovely  girls  to  be  more  for- 
tunate than  most ;  to  give  her  hand  with  her  heart,  to  the  man  of 
her  supreme  choice  ;  cannot  you  see,  with  a  glance  around  you, 
what  comes  then  ?  Waste  of  health  and  life  in  a  licensed  and 
sanctified  sensuality.  Children  beyond  the  powers  of  her  vitality, 
and  with  a  consequent  weak  hold  on  life,  and  great,  exhausting 
sorrows  in  their  sickness  and  death.  A  life  of  domestic  cares  and 
isolation,  with  little  opportunity  for  development  and  enjoyment ; 
or  a  dull,  tiresome  round  of  fashionable  dissipation  ;  or  a  wasting, 
wearying  indolence.  What  has  become  of  the  promise  of  that 
bloominof  belle-hood  ?  Oh  !  Clara,  cannot  we  save  some  at  least 
from  this  poor,  false  life  of  sham  pleasures  and  too  real  miseries  ? 
Let  us  try. 

I  know  that  the  conditions  of  this  life  of  industry,  art,  develop- 
ment, and  true  happiness  will  be  hard  to  attain.  I  know  that  a 
very  earnest  eflPort  will  be  required  to  conquer  disorder  in  and 
around  us  ;  to  overcome  idleness,  and  wastefulness  of  time ;  to 
waken  up  our  dormant  faculties  ;  to  work  under  the  inspirations  of 
devotion.  But  it  is  for  us.  Others  have  done  it,  and  we  can  do  it. 
It  is  not  harder  than  the  discipline  of  our  militai-y  school  at  West 
Point.  It  is  not  harder  than  the  seventeen  years  of  Jesuit  noviti- 
ate. It  is  far  less  revolting  than  the  discipline  of  many  ieliuious 
orders.  It  is  not  mortification  and  martyrdom,  but  life  and  hap- 
piness. It  is  simply  obeying  the  sacred  injunction :  "  Cease  to 
do  evil — learn  to  do  well."  We  can  do  this  work — we  will  do  it ; 
and  we  will  invite  those  friends,  for  whom  we  have  any  real  sym- 
pathy, to  join  us  in  our  work. 


EiPERANZA.  :i;»C' 

1  am  so  in  earnest  respecting;  what  I  have  written  you,  that  I 
paused  in  nay  writing  to  find  Melodia,  and  ask  her  counsel  in  our 
proceedings.  I  found  her  giving  the  little  Vincent  his  music  les- 
son, for  while  he  spends  most  of  his  time  in  the  groups  of  children, 
he  comes  to  her  at  certain  hours  every  day.  All  grown  persons 
here,  have  their  beautiful  relations  with  the  young.  The  little  ones 
learn  many  lessons  from  their  chosen  and  beloved  teachers. 

When  the  lesson  was  finished,  I  told  her  of  what  I  had  been 
writing,  and  what  I  wished  to  do.  She  entered  into  my  desires 
with  a  quick  and  tender  sympathy,  and  gave  me  what  seems  wise 
counsel.  It  is  that  when  1  return,  we  look  over  our  list  of  ac- 
quaintances, and  invite  those  we  feel  free  and  happy  in  inviting  to 
a  little  party.  That  I  then  tell  them  something  of  the  story  of 
what  I  have  seen  of  this  life,  and  invite  those  who  are  interested 
to  ask  their  friends  another  evening  to  discuss  the  matter  more 
fully.  That  I  then  explain  very  frankly,  the  nature  and  condi- 
tions of  this  life,  and  ascertain  if  there  are  any  who  are  ready  to 
seek  it  in  the  way  prescribed.  "If  any  can  be  found,"  she  said, 
"three  or  four,  perhaps,  who  are  ready  to  give  up  all  the  old,  and 
to  devote  themselves  body  and  spirit,  all  they  have  and  are,  with  a 
religious  zeal,  to  this  work  ;  then  read  to  them  the  pledges  of  con- 
secration ;  appoint  stated  times  to  meet  with  them,  for  conversa- 
tion and  instruction  ;  watch  the  unfoldings  of  their  minds,  and 
their  progress  in  the  orders  of  harmony,  test  their  humility  and 
obedience,  and  their  subjection  to  the  rules  for  the  discipline  of 
novitiates.  If  they  take  the  pledges  of  consecration  ;  if  they 
live  to  all  their  requirements  through  the  prescribed  period,  then 
are  they  truly  novitiates  of  our  life. 

"  Our  life,  with  all  its  goods,  material  and  spiritual,  is  open  to 
them.  When  there  is  harmony  in  your  little  group,  it  will  be 
ficted  to  join  our  larger  harmony.  But  do  not  forget  that  we  must 
reject  all  discordance.  There  must  be  no  pity.  The  disorderly  must 
be  sap^llftd,  and  the  parasitic  must  be  cut  off.  No  law  is  more  im- 
perative." 

I  shall  enter,  with  fear  and  trembling,  and  yet  with  a  deep  joy, 
upon  this  work.     It  may  seem  hard  to  you  that  I  say  it ;  but  it  is 


2yt>  ESPEUANZA. 

true  that  this  prospect  of  usefulness  increases  my  desire  to  come  to 
you.  I  feel  like  one  who  puts  out  in  a  little  boat  upon  the  stormy 
seas,  to  try  and  save  the  lives  of  shipwrecked,  drowning  voyagers, 
Help  me,  darling,  help  me  in  this  work.  Look  around  you,  and 
see  if  you  cannot  find  some  against  my  return. 

I  look  anxiously,  but  I  find  so  few.  One,  whose  beautiful  gifts 
of  talent  and  beauty  would  be  an  added  charm,  even  to  Esperanza, 
is  fast  bound  to  a  selfish  and  worldly  man.  She  can  never  break 
her  chain.  I  know  that  all  her  aspirations  are  for  a  pure  and  lov- 
ing life  of  beauty  and  culture ;  but  the  big  tears  will  come  in  her 
eyes,  and  despair  into  her  heart.  She  will  fold  her  hands  in  sub- 
mission to  her  earthly  fate  and  look  for  happiness  to  heaven. 

I  know  another,  a  glorious  woman,  whose  whole  soul  is  filled 
with  ideas  of  beauty,  harmony,  and  a  true  life — but  she,  too,  is 
bound;  and  in  her  prison  she  can  only  dream,  dream,  dream  her 
life  away.  How  strong  are  these  bonds,  that  the  word  binds  upon 
its  victims.  Our  young  men,  who  are  free  from  such  ties,  have 
they  not  all  yielded  themselves  to  slaveries  as  hopeless  and  more 
debasing.  Their  lager  beer  and  brandy;  their  oyster  suppers, 
and  luxurious  fare ;  their  sensual  amours  and  entanglements ;  their 
selfish  ambitions  for  fame  or  fortune.  What  can  emancipate  them 
from  these?  "Who  is.  sufficient  for  these  things?"  And  yet 
we  must  not  distrust.  Are  there  not  others  as  good,  as  self-sacri- 
cing,  as  devoted  as  we?  I  count  on  you,  my  Clara,  with  an  ab- 
solute faith.  Are  there  not  all  over  the  world,  those  who  devote 
themselves  to  what  they  recognize  as  the  highest  good — the  reli- 
gious orders  of  the  church ;  zealous  philanthropists  ;  devotees  of 
science,  and  art,  and  literature ;  volunteers  on  all  forlorn  hopes, 
moral  and  military. 

O  Darling !  if  the  age  of  chivalry  be  past,  does  not  its  spirit 
still  live  in  the  heart  of  humanity  ?  The  heroic  element  is  not 
lost.  God  lives,  and  man  aspires  to  the  Divine  Life.  Let  us  then 
trust  and  hope. 


XXI. 

The  Children,  and  the  Art  Life. 

Dear  Clara: — I  have  tried  to  make  all  I  see,  hear,  and  feel, 
live  for  you  ;  but  I  feel,  every  day,  how  poorly  I  have  stfcceeded. 
Even  to  me,  when  I  shut  my  eyes,  or  ride  off  into  the  woods  alone, 
all  seems  a  dream,  from  which  I  must  soon  awaken.  But  when  I 
turn  my  horse's  head,  and  give  him  rein  to  gallop  home,  and  this 
scene  of  beauty  opens  to  me,  like  some  enchanted  land,  I  wake  to 
the  glad  reality.  I  see  the  fast  ripening  corn ;  the  purpling  grapes  ; 
the  golden  pears  ;  the  rud'dy  velvet  of  the  peach  ;  the  teeming  acres 
of  melons  and  tomatoes  ;  all  the  bountiful  productions  of  a  rich  soil 
under  a  high  cultivation,  and  I  see  what  is  so  much  better  than  all 
this.  I  see  men,  women,  and  children,  better  cared  for,  better  cul- 
tivated, than  all  their  surroundings. 

Lovely  as  Esperanza  is,  in  scenery,  in  architecture,  in  art,  and 
culture  ;  what  she  excels  in  chiefly,  is  in  her  people.  The  earth  has 
many  fair  and  fertile  regions,  and  many  luxurious  and  princely 
homes.  But  the  most  beautiful  plantations  and  gardens  are  cultivated 
by  ignorant  peasants,  serfs,  or  slaves  ;  or  by  men  whose  only  care  is 
gain,  and  whose  uncultured  souls  are  deformed  by  sensual  vices. 
But  here  —  ah  !  the  happy  contrast !  —  here  the  soul  is  more  beauti- 
ful than  all  scenery,  architecture,  or  art,  and  it  is  the  inner  life  of 
feeling  and  thought,  that  find  expression  and  enjoyment  in  all  these 
outward  beauties. 

When  I  dream  now,  it  is  oflenest  of  you.  Then  I  am  in  our 
old  walks,  and  rides,  and  haunts  ;  or  I  sic  by  you  in  the  cosy  little 
parlor  of  your  dear  home.  I  dreamed  you  sang  me  a  new  song, 
and  th.e  words,  air,  and  even  the  accompaniment  were  so  vividly 

297 


298  ESPERANZA. 

present  wilh  me,  that  I  thought,  when  I  first  woke,  I  could  write 
them  all,  —  but  they  would  not  slay.  They  went  like  all  such 
dreams.  I  liave  dreamed  an  entire  romance,  cliapter  by  chapter, 
descriptions,  conversations, — the  entire  story  ;  but  I  could  never 
remember  it  an  hour.    Will  these  dreams  ever  come  back  to  us  ? 

And,  sometimes,  when  I  am  dreaming  of  you,  and  our  old  life, 
this  new  life  of  Esperanza  seems  a  dream,  that  I  dream  I  am 
dreaming.  It  was  so  yesterday  morning  ;  but  I  woke  to  a  burst 
of  glorious  music,  and  what  seemed  real  was  the  dream,  and  what 
seemed  a  dream  opened  into  the  divine  reality. 

Oh  !  this  music  !  Our  bands  give  us  old,  hackneyed  tunes  ;  or 
negro  airs,  whistled  into  tatters  ;  or,  at  the  best,  portions  of  the 
newer  operas.  But  here,  the  music  every  day  is  the  fresh  expres- 
sion of  the  life  ;  and  so  charming  that  no  words  can  express  it. 
Melodia  has  promised  to  copy  a  few  airs,  with  her  own  arrangement 
for  the  piano-forte,  for  you.  We  have  old  music,  too  ;  and  the  best 
of  the  old,  sacred  and  secular  ;  for  the  world  of  civilization  is  not 
forgotten.  But  the  best  music  here,  as  the  best  art  of  every  kind, 
is  the  outbirth  of  the  life,  and  embodies  its  truth,  freedom,  purity 
and  happiness. 

An  African  traveler  brouo'ht  a  neuro,  whom  he  had  attached  to 
himself  as  a  servant,  to  Sierra  Leone.  The  town,  fortress,  shipping, 
all  the  triumphs  of  civilization,  first  excited,  and  then  crazed  him ; 
until  he  jumped  overboard  from  a  steamer  in  the  harbor  and  was 
drowned.  So  I  think  it  might  be  with  this  life,  acting  on  weak 
and  sensitive  organizations  ;  and  even  on  this  account,  I  see  the 
wisdom  of  a  period  of  thorough  preparation. 

The  music  which  woke  me  from  my  dream  and  my  dream's 
dream,  was  sublime  enouoh  to  wake  a  world.     Those  who  dread 

o 

the  toils  of  the  day,  its  cares,  its  annoyances,  or  merely  its  ennui, 
may  well  hug  the  pillow.  But  here, — before  one  strain  of  that 
music  was  played,  I  was  on  my  feet,  breathing  full  breaths  of 
pleasure  ;  my  pulse  beating  with  its  glorious  life ;  ready  for  every 
thing  of  work  or  enjoyment.  0  ruddy  sky  of  morning  !  0  beauti- 
ful Auroia!  How  much  happiness  has  my  sluggishness  lost  me, 
in  all  the  past  years  !     Do  you  not  remember,  with  an  ever  fresh 


ESPERANZA.  299 

delight,  all  the  mornings  we  have  been  together  ?  That  great 
morning  on  the  Cattskills,  when  we  saw  the  horizon  so  far  away, 
and  watched  the  flying  shadows  over  the  vast  valley  of  the  Hudson. 
That  was  a  morning  in  the  grandeur  of  nature  ;  but  our  mornings 
here  are  even  more  grand  and  beautiful,  in  their  soul  harmonies. 

At  first,  I  looked  on  every  thing  here  as  a  critic  ;  I  listened  with 
interest  and  pleasure,  indeed, — but  as  a  spectator  listens.  It  is  no 
more  thus.  My  heart  and  soul  join  in  their  orisons  of  harmony. 
They  stir  my  being  to  its  profoundest  depths.  Tears  flow  from  my 
eyes  ;  and  I  feel  a  solemn  rapture,  such  as  no  other  religious  ser- 
vice has  ever  inspired.  Is  not  music  the  language  of  religion — of 
all  love  ;  even  of  the  Infinite  ?  I  experience  now,  also,  a  universal, 
full  hearted  recognition.  The  children  give  me  beautiful  tokens  of 
loving  confidence.  When  the  morning  hymn  was  sung,  a  little  girl 
of  five  years  ran  to  me  with  a  freshly  gathered  bouquet ;  and,  as 
she  gave  it  to  me,  held  up  her  rosy  cheek  to  be  kissed  for  payment. 
Her  mother  smiled  and  held  out  her  hand  with  a  frank  good  morn- 
ing ;  nor  was  there  any  one  to  chide,  when  I  kissed  the  hand,  as  I 
had  kissed  the  cheek.  There  is  a  little  interval  after  the  music,  for 
these  morning  greetings;  and  amid  the  perfect  order  of  every  move- 
ment here,  there  is  also  an  unconstrained  freedom,  that  is  its  bright- 
est charm.  I  can  only  compare  it  to  a  tree,  firm  and  symetrical, 
yet  covered  all  over  with  tender  waving  foliage  and  beautiful 
flowers. 

As  the  time  of  my  departure  draws  nigh,  I  find  many  persons 
and  things  to  see, — and  many  inquiries  to  make  ;  for  I  wish  to  be 
able  to  answer  every  question.  Thus,  in  the  Studio,  this  morning, 
I  said  to  Angelo,  who  presides  over  the  development  of  the  Esthetic 
Life  in  Art,  more  perhaps  than  any  other  :  "  Do  you  never  regret 
not  living  in  some  great  city  ?  " 

"  New  York,  for  example,"  he  answered,  with  a  dry,  droll  smile  ; 
"with  its  magnificent  galleries  and  noble  patronage  of  art." 

"  Not  New  York,  perhaps,"  said  I,  a  liitle  piqued  in  my  patriot- 
ism ;  "but  Paris,  or  Florence,  or  Rome." 

"  They  contain  great  collections  ;  and  are  very  interesting,  and 
in  certain  respects  instructive  to  the  artist ;   but  they  are  not  of  the 


300  ESPERANZA. 

first  necessity  ;  and  tlie  danger  of  imitation  goes  far  to  counterbal- 
ance the  knowledge  to  be  acquired.  We  liave  painters  here,  whom 
I  should  feel  sorry  to  see  at  Rome  or  Florence,  until  they  are  more 
mature  in  their  own  growth.  The  life  of  art  suffers  from  the  bonds 
of  custom,  fashion  and  requirement,  as  much  as  the  social  life. 
Both  must  be  in  correspondence.  Low  life,  low  art.  A  high, 
pure,  spiritual  life,  makes  its  art  expressions  in  harmony  with  itself. 
The  art  of  every  age  and  people  is  the  expression  of  its  life,  so  far 
as  it  finds  such  expression.  Now,  as  our  life  here  differs  some- 
Avhat  notably  from  that  of  the  world's  great  capitals,  they  can  give 
us  little  aid  in  its  true  expression.  We  need  not  go  for  study,  in 
the  sense  of  imitaliun, — it  would  lower  our  standard  :  not  for  mo- 
dels,— we  have  far  better  of  our  own,  than  any  hired  models  can  be  ; 
nor  for  patronage, — for  we  are  above  any  such  necessity." 

As  we  talked,  Evaline  and  Eugenia  approached  us,  their  arms 
entwined  about  each  other  in  sisterly  enfoldraents.  They  joined  in 
the  conversation. 

"  That  is  all  very  well,  Mr.  Angelo,,"  said  Evaline,  "but  I  can- 
not so  easily  give  up  my  old  dream  of  going  to  Italy.  You  have 
been  there,  and  saw  the  folly  of  it ;  but  none  the  less  do  I  wish  to 
see  the  folly,  too." 

"Well!"  he  answered  cheerfully,  "what  hinders?  You  have 
money  enough — that  used  to  be  the  difficulty  with  us  poor  artists, 
you  know.  Wliy  not  go  ?  Here  is  Mr.  Frank  will  be  veiy  happy 
to  attend  you  as  far  as  New  York  ;  and  for  the  rest,  you  are  a  brave 
girl  ;  and  there  are  artists  enough,  going,  on  there,  to  affoid  you 
all  the  protection  you  will  need.     Why  not  go  ?  " 

The  gentle  Evaline  looked  round  this  noble  room,  filled  with  me- 
mentos of  her  happy  life  and  associations.  She  felt  the  pressure 
of  the  loving  arms  that  were  twined  around  her.  She  looked  a 
moment  into  the  calm  deep  eyes  of  Angelo,  to  see  how  much  he 
was  in  earnest.     Then  a  happy  smile  broke  over  her  fjice. 

"  You  are  not  very  anxious  to  have  me  go,  I  think,"  said  she. 
"After  all,  I  don't  believe  much  in  Italy.  If  a  body  could  go  wiih- 
out  a  heart,  it  might  do  ;  but  I  will  wait  for  the  party  we  were  talk- 
ing of  the  other  day." 


ESPERANZA.  301 

This  party  ;  what  do  you  think  it  was  ?  Only  this.  To  charter 
a  fine,  fast  sailing  clipper,  and  make  a  voyage  up  the  Mediterranean, 
to  Italy,  Greece,  Egypt.  This  would  be  better  than  any  other  mode,  for 
they  could  lay  in  their  own  provisions  and  carry  with  them  the  life 
of  Esperanza.  Beyond  the  simple  charter  of  the  vessel,  there  would 
be  but  little  expense ;  and  the  trip  might  be  made  deliglitful, — if  a 
family  so  united,  could  be  so  long  divided.  But  all  this,  if  not  now, 
will  be  in  the  future,  when  Esperanza  has  grown  to  her  full  dimen- 
sions, and  still  more,  when  such  homes  shall  be  scattered  over  the 
earth,  making  its  beautiful  places  more  beautiful. 

Vincent  had  been  busy  all  the  morning.  I  had  scarcely  seen 
either  him  or  Melodia.  There  were  other  signs  of  preparation  for 
some  event  of  importance  ;  and  I  was  left  more  alone  than  usual, 
to  prosecute  my  researches.  So  I  walked  over  the  gardens  and 
orchards;  I  inspected  again  the  machinery  and  operations  of  the 
factories  ;  I  lounged  a  little  while  in  the  library,  which  took  me 
back  into  the  world  of  civilization  ;  then  I  went  to  make  one  more 
visit  to  the  nursery,  to  see  the  blossoming  of  the  future. 

If  the  world  could  bat  know  the  worth  of  its  babies  !  If  men 
and  women  could  be  as  wise  for  infant  humanity  as  they  are  for  so 
many  other  things  !  Care,  pains,  expense,  science,  skill,  are  ex- 
pended in  perfecting  all  productions  but  just  the  most  important ; 
and  these  are  left  to  ignorance  and  chance.  It  is  not  so  here  ;  and 
here,  therefore,  there  are  only  healthy,  strong,  noble,  and  beautiful 
children. 

In  this  sweet  nursery,  which  is  a  real  infant's  paradise,  I  met 
Harmonia.  With  a  passionate  love  of  infancy,  and  much  knowl- 
edge in  its  proper  care  and  education,  she  spends  many  of  her 
happiest  and  most  useful  hours  with  these  babes  and  their  mothers 
and  nurses.  The  little  rosy  darlings  laughed  and  crowed,  when 
they  saw  her  coming,  and  put  out  their  little  dimpled  hands  to  be 
taken  to  her  bosom. 

I  stood  watching  this  scene,  which  I  have  already  described  to 
you  ;  and  thought  of  the  thousands  of  miserable,  sickly  babies, 
growing  up  in  poverty,  filth,  and  every  kind  of  wretchedness,  or 
swelling  that  horrible  account  of  infant  mortality.     And  I  thought. 


302  ESPERASZA. 

if  Esperanza  had  done  but  this,  it  would  be  so  good  a  work,  that 
all  the  world  might  well  follow  her  example. 

"I  am  glad  to  see  this  lesson  so  well  learned,"  said  Haimonia, 
divining  my  thoughts.  "  My  heart  has  bled  so  often  for  the  poor 
children  of  civilization !  Here,  at  last,  a  human  spirit  may  find 
some  prospect  of  an  existence  well  begun,  and  worth  enjoying. 
We  may  find  some  worthy  recruits  in  the  Avorld  we  have  left,  but 
our  best  hope  of  the  future  is  here." 

She  went  with  me  to  the  theater.  In  it  was  a  busy  "work  of 
preparation.  Vincent  and  Melodia  were  on  the  stage,  engaged  in  a 
rehearsal. 

"You  do  not  know  what  is  going  forward,"  said  Harmonia." 
"They  are  very  discreet,  but  I  am  not.  To-morrow  is  my  birth- 
day. How  many  I  have  had,  has  been  kindly  forgotten  by  all  my 
dear  friends, — but  they  never  forget  wlien  one  comes  ;  and  to- 
morrow you  will  see  how  they  celebrate  it." 

We  stayed  but  a  few  moments  ;  just  long  enough  to  give  me  a 
curiosity  for  the  morrow's  festival ;  and  then  I  continued  my  survey, 
in  the  dear  company  so  kindly  bestowed  upon  me.  My  own 
mother  could  not  be  more  tenderly  kind  to  me  ;  and  she  will  be  a 
mother  to  you  also,  dear  Clara ;  a  very  wise,  good  mother ;  and  if 
I  am  ever  wrong  to  you  in  any  way,  she  will  see  that  the  wrong  is 
righted. 

As  we  passed  through  the  gardens,  we  saw  busy  groups  of  chil- 
dren, gathering  and  arranging  flowers  ;  but  they  did  not  gather 
round  Harmonia  as  usual,  but  worked  on,  with  a  few  shy  glances, 
as  if  their  business  was  a  great  secret,  and  of  the  most  importance. 
"The  beautiful  children!"  I  said,  aloud,  "living  together  like 
brothers  and  sisters  of  one  family ;  I  wonder  if  they  take  account 
of  their  actual  relationships." 

"You  might  have  the  apprehension,  that  some  of  our  children 
are  no  wiser  in  this  respect,  than  many  of  the  children  of  civili- 
zation. The  thought  is  natural  ;  but  it  is  not  justified  by  the 
fact.  In  the  world,  there  is  every  motive  for  a  woman  to  conceal 
paternity,  unsanctioned  by  law  ;  yet  I  have  known,  even  in  tliis 
moral  country  of  ours,  numerous  cases,  in  which  the  reputed  father 


ESPERANZA.  '^3195 

was  not  the  actual  one.  These  children  must  always  remain  in 
ignorance,  with  the  liabilities  you  may  have  feared  for  ours.  Here 
such  a  thing  can  never  happen  ;  for  there  is  no  motive  for  conceal- 
ment ;  and  every  father  can  proudly  own  his  children,  and  every 
child  can  know  its  father.  Birth  is  too  sacred  a  thing  with  us,  and 
the  welfare  of  the  immortal  souls,  who  take  their  bodily  forms  from 
us,  too  important,  for  any  hazard  of  evil  or  guilty  secresy.  As 
every  child  is  born  of  a  most  sacred  love,  guided  by  the  best  wisdom 
of  its  parents,  it  has  the  best  guarantees  we  can  give  it  of  a  pure 
birth,  a  healthy  and  beautiful  organization,  the  tenderest  care,  the 
most  integral  education,  and  the  best  development  of  all  its  faculties. 

"And  there  is  another  thing,  of  which,  perhaps,  you  have  not 
thought.  These  children  grow  up  to  the  heritage  and  possession 
of  a  home.  Each  one  is  an  heir  to  a  princely  inheritance.  In  the 
world  we  have  left,  thousands  of  parents  have  no  homes  of  their 
own  ;  and  of  course  none  for  their  children.  They  pay  high 
rents  for  poor  shelter  ;  and  their  children  grow  up,  in  ignorance 
and  privation,  to  a  like  fate.  When  better  off,  the  little  homestead 
will  not  hold  the  growing  family,  and  brothers  and  sisters  are  torn 
asunder  and  scattered  over  the  earth.  No  sooner  is  a  little  group 
formed,  with  something  of  harmonious  life,  than  it  is  rudely  de- 
stroyed ;  and  so  on  forever,  amid  sighs  and  tears.  Aged  parents 
pining  in  loneliness, — young  hearts  always  bleeding.  This  is  the 
life  of  civilization. 

"  But  here,  there  are  no  such  sorrows  in  store  for  us.  The  hive 
grows  as  the  swarm  increases.  When  tlie  time  comes  that  we  can 
form  a  new  home  from  the  increase  of  the  old,  there  will  be  no  soli- 
tary scattering  over  the  earth,  but  those  who  go  will  be  well  provided 
for,  as  well  as  those  who  remain.  We  shall  all  have  two  homes 
then.     Over  the  whole  earth,  how  many  have  any  real  home  ?" 

"  So  few!  so  few!"  I  said,  "  are  there  any  who  have  truly  a  home?" 

"  The  desire  for  the  home  exists  everywhere.  It  is  a  human 
instinct  which  forever  seeks  to  embody  its  ideal ;  and  little  groups 
are  formed  by  the  family,  but  weak  and  soon  broken.  Larger 
societies  have  gathered,  religious  and  others  ;  but  crude  and  im- 
perfect in  their  organization.     Aggregations  of  discordance  do  not 


304  EsPERANZA. 

make  harmonies ;  nor  is  silence  harmony.  Many  elements  are 
necessary  to  a  social  harmony.  One  or  two  are  not  enough.  The 
societies  of  the  religious,  in  the  Catholic  Church,  have  depended 
chiefly  on  the  religious  element.  Other  societies  have  made  indus- 
try more  prominent.  The  Shakers  unite  these  two  ;  but  these  are 
not  enough." 

"Will  you  tell  me  what  you  think  the  most  important  elements 
of  a  society  ?" 

"Yes;  religion,  love,  industry,  art;  these  four  elements  in 
orderly  development  and  exercise,  comprise  the  necessities  of  life. 
Religion  gives  us  unity  with  the  Infinite,  and  aspiration  to  the 
higher  and  more  perfect  life.  Love  is  the  sum  of  all  attractions  to, 
and  harmonies  with,  each  other.  Industry  is  the  basis  of  the  physi- 
cal life,  and  the  natural  outflow  of  its  energies.  Art  is  the  culti- 
vation and  expression  of  the  beautiful.  Order  is  the  perfect  adap- 
tation and  harmony  of  these  four  elements. 

"Every  human  being  has  some  consciousness  of  wants,  corres- 
ponding to  these  social  elements.  A  true  society  must  satisfy  these 
wants.  A  group  of  faculties  belongs  to  each,  and  that  social  con- 
dition fails  of  its  purpose  which  does  not  give  exercise  to  every 
human  faculty,  and  satisfy,  in  some  good  degree,  every  human 
desire.  You  can  see  how  far  our  life  does  this, — and  how  far 
others  either  do  it,  or  fail  of  their  true  purpose.  The  true  life  of 
man  includes  all  the  goods  of  *  the  life  that  now  is,'  as  well  as 
'  the  life  to  come.'  " 

We  were  walking  beside  a  thick  hedge  of  current  bushes  ;  for  the 
hedges  here  are  all  of  flowering  or  fruitful  shrubs  ;  when  on  the 
other  side  we  heard  a  group  of  children  busily  at  work,  and  sing- 
ing in  full  chorus  : 

"  Flowers,  beautiful  flowers,  to  crown  thy  natal  day  ; 
Fruits,  fruits  delicious,  accept  from  us,  we  pray  ; 
Sweet  as  the  garlands,  we  bring  thy  hair  to  twine. 
As  sweet  and  fragrant,  be  each  love  of  thine. 
Heaven  grant  our  wish  sincere  ! 
Bless  thee,  our  mother  dear ! 
All  brightest  blessings  round  thee  ever  shine  1" 


ESPERANZA.  305 

"Ah!"  sofdy  exckimed  Harruonia,  "we  have  stumbled  on 
another  rehearsal,  it  seems.  Come  ;  we  must  go  away.  One  can  't 
eat  one's  cake  and  have  it,  too ;  and  sufficient  unto  the  morrow 
will  be  the  goods  thereof." 

So  we  walked  softly  out  of  hearing  of  the  dear  little  minstrels, 
who  were  preparing  so  busily  for  the  fete  of  the  morrow. 

Melodia  sent  me,  by  the  bright  Angela,  an  invitation  to  take  my 
supper  in  her  lovely  saloon,  with  Vincent  and  Serafa.  Harmonia  had 
accepted  an  invitation  to  spend  the  evening  with  Evaline,  and  some 
of  her  artist  friends.  On  account  of  the  festival  of  the  morrow,  there 
was  no  general  gathering  of  any  kind  in  the  evening,  but  many  little 
groups  of  congenial  spirits  ;  while  others  were  working  away,  with 
a  loving  interest,  to  complete  the  preparations  for  the  morrow. 

I  prepared  myself  with  care  for  the  evening.  Never  have  I  been 
so  careful  in  my  dress  as  here,  because  I  have  never  been  in  any 
society  where  the  arts  of  dress  and  personal  adornment  were  so 
highly  cultivated.  We  have  seen  much  greater  expense,  but  never 
such  artistic  taste,  and  such  lovely  effects  of  costume  and  orna- 
ment as  here,  where  dress  is  one  of  the  fine  arts.  There  is  beauty 
of  form,  and  harmony  of  colors,  and  adaptations.  Nothing  is  done 
by  chance,  but  every  shade  has  its  purpose. 

When  I  entered  the  room  where  the  three  were  seated  on  a 
lounge,  I  could  not  but  admire  the  picture  they  made.  And  as  I 
came  nearer,  other  senses  were  as  pleasantly  aftected.  Each  had 
selected  some  delicate  perfume,  and  the  three  blended  into  a  har- 
mony of  odors.  When  they  spoke  to  me,  their  speech  was  musical, 
and  their  voices  delicately  attuned  to  each  other.  Oh  !  the  coarse, 
brawling,  mumbling,  lisping,  spluttering,  uncouth  speech  of  our 
"best  society,"  where  not  one  person  in  a  hundred  has  any  refine- 
ment of  education ; — I  can  never  endure  it  again.  With  these, 
the  simplest  phrase  is  music.  The  Emperor  Charles  V.,  a  very 
accomplished  man,  but  not  very  scrupulous,  used  to  say  that  we 
should  speak  Spanish  with  the  gods,  Italian  with  our  lovers,  French 
with  our  friends,  German  with  soldiers,  English  with  geese, 
Hungarian  with  horses,  and  Bohemian  with  the  devil.  You  may 
26 


306  EsPEKANZA. 

have  spoken  English  with  geese  very  often  ;  but  here,  you  will  find 
it  musical  enough  for  any  purpose. 

I  went  to  sit  by  the  side  of  tSerafa,  with  the  feeling,  rather  than 
thought  of  leaving  Melodia  more  to  Vincent ;  but  she  arranged 
it  otherwise,  motioning  with  her  fan  of  sandal  wood,  that  scattered 
its  soft,  oriental  odor  at  every  movement,  that  I  should  take  an 
ottoman  nearest  her.  It  was  a  queenly  act ;  slight  as  it  might  seem 
to  one  who  did  not  know  its  purport.  It  gave  to  Serafa  just  so 
much  of  Vincent  as  I  could  balance  on  the  other  side.  It  was  but 
little, — but  the  act  was  no  less  generous  to  her  and  also  to  me.  So 
much  for  the  wave  of  a  lady's  fan.  Why  not  ?  Do  not  human 
destinies, — the  destinies  of  nations  even,  hang  on  nods,  or  smiles, 
or  a  yes  or  no  ? 

We  had  conversation,  running  like  a  quiet  stream,  now  glittering 
over  bright  pebbles,  now  pausing  in  serene  depths,  now  eddying 
backward  to  the  past,  now  shooting  forward  to  a  widening  future. 
We,  or  they,  I  should  rather  say,  and  I  do  it  in  no  affected  humility, 
talked  of  literature,  art,  science,  poetry,  philosophy,  and  especially 
of  the  philosophy  of  life.  Serafa  had  brought  a  little  ode  she  had 
written  for  the  morrow.     When  she  read  it,  Melodia  took  it,  saying  : 

"Why,  my  darling,  this  ought  to  be  sung,  do  you  know  ?" 

"  Doubtless,  music  would  make  it  more  worthful,"  said  the 
modest  poet;  "they  say  that  very  silly  verses  seem  good,  when 
they  are  set  to  music  !" 

"Naughty  child  !"  said  Melodia,  opening  the  piano-forte,  "your 
verses  are  so  musical  that  no  reading  can  properly  express  them, — ■ 
let's  see  now  if  we  can  find  some  music  for  them."  She  read  a 
few  lines  over  hummingly ;  then  struck  a  prelude,  that  seemed  the 
very  voice  of  the  verse,  and  then  sang  them  gloriously,  divinely. 
Vincent  looked  at  her  with  a  look  of  proud  admiration,  and  Serafa 
was  in  tears.  She  went  gently  to  Melodia,  still  seated  at  the  piano- 
forte, and  kneeling  at  her  feet,  said  : 

"  Thank  you,  0  beautiful  One.  Will  you  take  my  poor  verses, 
and  sino-  them  to-morrow  evenino-." 

"  Yes,  darlinu" :"  she  answered,  with  her  radiant  smile  of  strenglh 
and  happiness,  a  smile  born  out  of  the  consciousness  of  power,  "  it 


EsPERANZA.  307 

shall  be  as  you  wish."  Then  she  kissed  her  tenderly,  and  raised 
her  up  ;  then  opening-  her  desk,  set  me  to  copy  the  poem. 

Al'ier  that  we  had  our  supper,  delicate  enough  for  the  food  of  fairies. 
Then  she  took  a  volume  of  the  poems  of  Tennison,  and  improvised 
music  for  a  dozen  or  more  of  his  daintiest  sonofs.  Then  she  sano- 
some  duets  with  Vincent ;  I  did  my  best  to  make  out  a  trio  some- 
times ;  and  so  spend  our  time  until  the  moon  rose,  and  threw  her  pale 
light  over  the  landscape.  We  walked  out  then,  and  down  to  the 
lake,  which  was  rippled  all  over  with  silver  in  the  cool  evening- 
breeze.  We  entered  a  boat ;  Vincent  shook  out  the  sail  with  a  ready 
band,  and  taking  the  lielm  we  were  soon  gliding  off,  like  a  white 
ghost  in  the  moon-beams. 

When  we  had  sailed  a  mile  or  more  from  the  landing,  so  that  the 
lighted  edifice  of  Esperanza  looked  like  a  fairy  palace,  Vincent  took 
his  bugle  from  its  case,  which  had  been  sent  to  the  boat  beforehand, 
and  blew  first  a  few  long  signal  notes,  whose  echoes  came  floating 
back  from  every  side  over  the  still  waters.  He  waited  a  moment 
for  some  answering  signal.  Melodia  pointed  me  to  a  star  of  lights 
in  a  window  of  the  central  tower.  It  showed  that  Harmonia  w^as  in 
her  balcony ;  that  she  had  heard  our  signal,  and  that  she  was 
probably  looking  at  our  white  sail  in  the  moonbeams. 

Then  this  lover-husband  played  old  airs  of  years  long  gone, — 
airs  of  Moore's  Melodies  ;  airs  of  favorite  songs  ;  airs  from  Opera's  ; 
every  thing  that  Harmonia  had  ever  loved  of  music  from  her  infancy 
up,  and  through  all  the  days  of  the  sweet  unity  of  their  loving  life. 
He  played  them  with  a  feeling  that  affected  us  all.  Melodia  sang 
the  words  in  a  low,  sweet,  melodious  cadence,  as  he  played  the 
airs  ;  weaving  them  into  a  musical  garland.  Then,  we  glided  away 
into  the  shadows  of  the  woods, — swept  along  the  shores,  and  after 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  little  voyages  of  my  life,  we  were  back 
again  at  the  landing,  where  Harmonia  and  Evaline  met  us,  and 
with  them  we  walked  up  the  lawn,  and  said  our  good  night  adieus 
under  the  tree,  where  I  had  first  seen  the  good  father,  playing  with 
his  children. 

Vincent  went  with  Harmonia,  Serafa  with  Evaline,  and  I  was 
left  with  Melodia. 


308  ESFBRAMZA. 

As  I  looked  at  her  queenly  beauty  in  the  moonlight,  the  thought 
of  the  oncoming  liour  of  parting  swept  over  me.  I  think  she  saw 
it  in  the  expression  of  my  features,  the  tremor  of  my  voice,  and 
the  pressure  of  my  hand  ;  for  she  said,  with  a  quiet  solemnity : 

"My  friend,  be  calm  and  brave.  You  go  to  do  your  work,  and 
you  will  return,  if  you  do  it  all  worthily.  No  change  will  come 
to  those  you  love,  and  those  who  love  you.  All  the  riches  of  our 
life  is  for  you,  if  you  remain  as  now.  Peace,  hope,  love ;  all  joys, 
all  happiness,  are  yours,  if  you  are  faithful  to  the  life  and  its 
requirements.  I  pledge  you  all,  and  I  give  you,  here,  in  the  silvery 
moonlight,  on  this  sacred  spot,  and  under  the  eye  of  the  pure 
heavens,  I  give  you  this  token  of  acceptance. 

She  kissed  my  forehead, — I  sank  upon  my  knee, — I  kissed  her 
hand, — I  wet  it  with  my  tears.  She  drew  it  silently  away  ;  and 
when  I  rose,  the  angel  had  vanished. 


XXII.- 

HARMONIA's    BIRTHDAr. 

Mv  Darling  : — I  sank  quickly  into  a  sweet,  dreamless  slumber, 
my  last  thoughts  of  you,  my  last  prayer  for  your  happiness.  I  had 
slept  some  hours  when  my  senses  woke  gradually  to  the  loveliest 
of  all  midnight  seranades,  in  which  a  full  band  welcomed  the  first 
moments  of  the  birthday  of  Harmonia.  From  my  window  I  saw 
her  come  into  her  balcony,  in  flowing  white  robes,  with  a  gauzy 
scarf  thrown  over  her  head,  and  kiss  her  hand  in  tbe  moouli"'ht, 
to  thank  the  dear  friends  who  had  so  charmingly  awaked  her. 

I  sank  again  to  sleep  and  heard  no  more  until  roused  by  a  tender 
yet  triumpiiant  strain  from  Vincent's  bugle,  followed  by  the  morning 
call  of  the  full  band  ;  then  the  morning  hymn,  after  which  came  a 
fairy-like  procession  of  all  the  children,  with  baskets  of  fruits  and 
flowers,  chanting  the  chorus  we  had  overheard  the  day  before. 
Harmonia  kissed  and  thanked  them,  and  after  the  usual  morning 
lecture  we  went  to  a  festal  breakfast.  The  room  had  been  decorated 
for  the  occasion,  so  that  when  she,  whose  birthday  all  so  love  and 
so  delight  to  honor,  went  in  leaning  upon  Vincent's  arm,  with  one 
of  the  prettiest  of  flower-wreaths  on  her  head,  and  looked  round  at 
the  walls  and  tables,  she  burst  into  tears  of  happiness. 

The  work  of  the  morning  was  accomplished,  and  dinner  renewed 
these  sweet  testimonials  of  love  and  gratitude.  Her  health  was 
drank  in  a  fashion  entirely  new  to  me.  At  each  table  some  one 
rose,  men,  women  and  children,  with  a  toast.  At  one  table  it  was 
Melodia  :  filling  a  glass  of  the  pure  nectar  wine  of  Esperanza,  she 
rose  and  said  : 

"  Dear  friends  : — Let  us  thank  the  good  God  for  the  return  of 
this  happy  festival ;  drink  to  Harmonia,  the  interpreter  of  heavenly 
wisdom  !" 

309 


310  EsPERANZA. 

"  To  Harmonia,"  said  a  young-  man,  rising  at  a  table  near, 
"guide  and  counsellor  of  the  young  !" 

"To  Harmonia,"  said  next  a  beautiful  woman,  "the  loving 
mother  of  our  little  babes  !" 

"To  Harmonia,  sweet  mother  of  us  all!"  said  one  of  the  dear 
little  girls  who  had  been  foremost  in  the  floral  offering.  And  so 
the  toasts  went  round. 

Brief  addresses  were  made  by  several  of  the  younger  portion  of 
the  society.  One  or  two  of  them,  in  direct  reference  to  the  active 
part  which  had  been  taken  by  Harmonia  in  teaching  the  laws,  and 
unfolding  the  science  of  harmony  in  life. 

When  it  became  evident,  by  a  longer  pause  of  silence  than 
usual  between  speeches,  that  all  had  spoken  who  wished  to  do  so, 
Harmonia  rose  and  said,  "  I  thank  you  all,  dear  friends,  for  the 
kindness  and  the  love  manifested  toward  me,  not  only  upon  the 
present  occasion,  but  for  all  that  has  come  to  me  through  all  the 
days  since  our  gathering  into  the  unity  of  this  happy  and  tranquil 
life. 

"It  is  quite  natural  that  young  persons  of  ardent  temperament 
should  treasure  in  the  memory,  and  cherish  with  an  interest  ap- 
proaching to  devotion  the  names  of  their  own  dear  mothers,  and 
of  all  indeed  by  whom  they  have  been  blessed  with  care,  kindness 
and  love,  during  their  infancy.  Emotions  of  gratitude  have  their 
foundation  in  a  law  of  our  nature,  and  are  in  themselves  right.  It 
is  well,  however,  that  we  all  bear  in  mind  the  fact,  that  there  is  a 
line  of  balance  beyond  which  excess  of  good  may  become  an  evil. 
Our  own  people,  the  full  members  of  our  society,  understand  each 
other,  and  were  it  not  that  we  have  a  few  friends  from  a  distance, 
visitng  us  to-day,  I  might  not  have  mentioned  the  subject. 

"  It  is  true,  that  the  remembrance  of  the  fact,  that  such  a  society 
has  been  p-athered  from  the  discords  of  the  old  world ;  and  this 
beautiful  home,  built  up  within  so  short  a  time,  may  well  be  a  vital 
joy  to  us  all.  It  is  true,  that  for  our  triumph  over  many  obstacles, 
and  the  achievement  in  so  short  a  time  of  this  great  success,  we 
are  indebted  much  to  the  wisdom  and  the  experience  imparted  to 
us  from  the  Spirit  world. 


ESPERANZA.  311 

"  It  is  also  true,  that,  my  friends,  those  who  know  most  of  my 
past  life,  can  bear  me  witness,  that  I  speak  truly,  wlieu  I  ^ay,  that 
there  is  not  much  room  left  me  to  lay  claim  to  personal  merit,  or 
for  my  friends  to  try  their  skill  in  seLting  up  the  claim  for  me,  even 
were  I  vain  enough  to  attempt,  or  desire  it.  I  have,  like  other 
skeptical  persons,  disputed  inch  by  inch,  every  new  philosophy 
that  lias  been  brought  to  me  ;  I  was  not  friendly  to  the  faith  ;  I  even 
went  so  far  as  to  forbid  my  friends  speaking  of  it  in  my  presence. 
Thus  it  was,  while  1  was  neither  asking  or  seeking  light,  that  by 
the  efforts  of  my  angel  friends,  in  the  land  of  Spirit  life,  that  the 
influence  and  the  power  flowed  in  upon  me,  and  I  became  su- 
premely blest,  not  in  credence  or  in  belief,  but  in  faith  and  knowl- 
edge. 

"  My  spiritual  senses  were  opened,  I  saw,  and  conversed  with 
spirits  as  though  they  were  in  the  body  ;  they  controlled  my  hand, 
and  wrote  whatever  they  wished,  and  gave  convincing  tests  to  many 
of  my  friends,  who,  like  myself,  had  been  up  to  that  time  unbelieving. 

"  These  things  were  no  less  a  surprise  to  me  than  to  others.  A 
few  of  us  were  designated  by  the  spirits  who  offered  us  their  coun- 
sel, and  we  were  told,  that  if  we  would  give  attention  to  the  rules 
which  they  were  willing  to  ofier  for  our  consideration  and  our 
acceptance,  if  we  chose,  they  would  give  us  the  benefit  of  their 
own  experience,  and  teach  us,  what  they  believed  would  enable  us 
to  ultimate  this  society,  and  this  blessed  home  in  which  we  live  and 
enjoy.  Thus,  you  will  perceive  that  I  de.serve  no  praise,  and  I 
claim  no  merit,  but  might  say  with  the  Apostle,  '  by  the  grace  of 
God,  I  am  what  I  am.' 

"  Should  what  I  am  saying,  appear  not  well  timed,  or  not  ap- 
propriate to  the  present  occasion,  I  know  you  will  excuse  me. 

"  I  feel  that  a  spirit  of  watchfulness,  humility  and  prayer,  is  need- 
ful for  us  all.  We  may  thank  the  kind  angels,  honor  the  Spirit 
of  Wisdom,  and  the  law  of  "  Salvation  by  Christ."  We  may 
sing  praises  to  the  Divine  Author  of  Harmony  and  Celestial  Love, 
yot  we  should  be  sparing  of  praises  bestowed  upon  fellow  mortals. 

"I  would  not  mar  the  present  harmony  by  improper  criticism, 
but  I  ran  not  forget  that  we  are   the   children  of  a  race  prone  to 


312  EsPERANZA. 

idolatry,  the  enthusiasm  of  a  joyous  company  may  lead  to  ex- 
tremes, there  is  danger  of  ascribing  to  the  instrument,  honor  and 
praises,  which  are  due  to  the  wisdom  of  the  angels,  or  the  Divine 
influences  which  have  controled,  or  spoken  through  those  instru- 
ments. 

"  How  was  it  even  with  the  good  St.  John, — did  he  not  manifest 
this  same  human  weakness,  when  an  angvl  liad  brouglit  liim  glad 
tidings  from  the  spiritual  world,  and  explained  to  him  some  of  the 
many  wonders  connected  with  angel  life? 

'■  His  own  tesumony  toucliing  the  circumstance,  as  we  find  it  on 
record  in  the  last  chapter  of  Revelations,  is  given  in  tlie  following 
words,  (opening  a  gilt  edged  copy  of  the  New  Testament  which  she 
drew  from  her  pocket,  she  read  :)  "  And  I,  John,  saw  these  things, 
and  heard  them,  and  when  I  had  heard  and  seen,  I  fell  down  to  wor- 
ship before  the  feet  of  the  angel  which  showed  me  these  things. 

"  Tlien  saith  he  unto  me,  see  thou  do  it  not ;  for  I  am  thy  fellow- 
servant,  and  of  tliy  brethren  the  prophets,  and  of  them  which  keep 
the  sayings  of  this  book  ;  worship  God.'  " 

As  Harmonia  closed  and  resumed  her  seat,  Vincent  rose  and 
said:  "Perhaps  it  is  time  for  us  now  to  adjourn  till  the  evening; 
and  yet  I  had  thought  of  oft'ering  to  sing  something  which  has  just 
now  been  freshly  revived  in  n\y  memory." 

All  faces  at  once  beamed  with  a  look  of  renewed  interest  and 
anticipated  pleasure.  Vincent  felt  his  welcome,  and  calling  Melodia 
to  his  aid,  the  two  stood  up  together,  and  sang 

"  THE  FOUR  LEAVED  SHAMROCK." 
I  '11  seek  a  four  leaved  shamrock. 

In  all  the  fairy  dells  ; 
And  if  I  find  its  charmed  leaves. 

Oh !  how  I  '11  weave  my  spells.  ^ 

I  would  not  waste  my  magic  might 

On  diamond,  pearl,  or  gold  ; 
For  treasure  tires  the  wearied  sense — 
'  Such  triumph  is  but  cold  : 

But  I  would  play  tlie  Enchantress  part. 

And  scatter  bliss  around 
That  not  a  tear,  nor  aching  heart. 
Should  in  the  world  be  found. 


ESPERANZA.  313 

To  worth,  I  would  give  honor, 

I  'd  dry  the  mourner's  tears  ; 
And  to  the  pallid  lip  recall, 

The  smile  of  happier  j-ears. 
And  hearts  that  had  been  long  estranged. 

And  friends  that  had  grown  cold, 
Should  meet  again  like  parted  streams, 

And  mingle  as  of  old. 
Oh  !  thus  I  'd  play  the  Enchantress  part, 

And  scatter  bliss  around. 
That  not  a  tear,  nor  aching  heaii;. 

Should  in  the  world  be  found. 

The  heart  that  had  been  mourning, 

O  'er  vanished  dreams  of  love  ; 
Should  see  them  all  returning. 

Like  Noah's  faithful  dove : 
And  hope  should  launch  her  blessed  bark, 

On  sorrow's  darkening  sea. 
And  miseries'  sons  should  find  an  ark. 

And  saved  from  sinking  be. 
Oh  !  thus  I  'd  plaj'  the  Enchantress  part, 

And  scatter  bliss  around. 
That  not  a  tear,  nor  aching  heart 

Should  in  the  world  be  found. 

I  will  not  pretend  to  describe  the  beauty  of  the  tune,  or  the 
enchanting  manner  in  which  this  song  was  sung.  I  could  not 
describe  it, — Vincent  and  Melodia  are  both  of  them  excellent 
singers,  yet  on  this  occasion  both  appeared  to  be  inspired,  and  to 
excel  all  that  I  had  ever  before  heard  from  ihem  in  music.  Before 
this  beautiful  song  was  half  completed,  all  was  hushed  into  the 
deepest  silence,  not  a  sound  to  be  heard,  save  the  beauteous  min- 
gling of  the  two  singing  voices.  When  they  finished  the  last  line, 
there  was  not  one  person  present,  that  I  could  see,  whose  eyes  were 
not  freshly  moistened  with  tears.  My  own  dearest  Clara,  many 
times  since  I  have  been  here,  I  have  wished  that  you  were  with  me, 
to  share  in  some  beauty  or  some  rare  enjoyment ;  but  never  did  I 
miss  you  from  my  side  so  much  as  during  the  singing  of  this 
beautiful  song.  Hope  whispers  to  me  that  we  may  yet  hear  it 
together.     Melodia  thanked  tlie  audience  for  their  quiet  and  atlen- 


314  ESPERANSSA. 

tive  appreciation  of  the  song,  and  announced  that  the  festive  enjoy- 
ments would  be  resumed  again  at  evening. 

The  evening  came,  which  was  to  be  the  crowning  festival  in  honor 
of  Harmonia's  birthday.  Her  tastes  and  wishes  had  been  consulted  ; 
and  as  she  does  not  dance,  but  is  passionately  fond  of  music,  we 
had  her  favorite  opera,  and  a  musical  concert.  It  began  early.  The 
band  gave  the  overture  to  Massaniello  with  delightful  spirit.  You 
heard  it  with  Salvi  as  the  hero.  Ours  was  not  a  thorough  artist 
like  him,  but  still  very  spirited.  There  could  scarcely  be  a  better 
Fenella  than  our  Melodia.  The  opera  went  off  with  salvos  of 
applause. 

Then  a  cheering  little  social  intermission.  There  was  a  jubilant 
interchange  of  happy  greetings  all  over  the  house.  The  performers 
on  the  stage  came  among  the  audience  to  receive  their  praises.  In 
a  few  moments  after  the  curtain  fell,  a  little  troop  of  waiters  scattered 
over  the  house  bearing  delicate  refreshments.  Then  came  more 
music ;  and  at  last  the  beautiful  ode  of  Serafa  was  sung  by  Melodia 
and  encored  with  enthusiasm,— then  came  a  grand  chorus.  I 
thought  this  mio-ht  be  the  end,  but  it  was  not.  Vincent  came  for- 
ward  with  a  little  scroll  of  paper  in  his  hand,  and  said  : 

"  Dear  Friends : — Years  ago,  when  our  home  was  yet  an  un- 
realized ideal,  she  whose  birthday  you  are  so  kind  as  to  celebrate, 
was  surrounded  by  a  little  group  of  loving  hearts  ;  and  then,  as 
now,  they  wished  to  make  her  birthday  a  little  festival.  For  one 
of  these  occasions  she  wrote  a  simple,  heartful  song.  I  found 
some  music  for  it,  and  sang  it  to  our  assembled  friends.  Let  me 
offer  you  this  little  souvenir  of  our  germinal  efforts." 

The  proposal  was,  of  course,  welcomed  with  enthusiasm,  and  he 
seated  himself  at  the  piano-forte,  and  sang  : 

All  sweetly,  humbly,  joyfully, 

Rings  music  through  ray  heart, 
And  sings  itself  triumphally. 

As  if  of  heaven  a  part ; 
All  solemnly  and  thankfully 

I  feel  its  blissening  power 
As  ringing  out  victoriously, 

It  celebrates  the  hour-  - 


ESPERANZA.  5V& 

When  angels  meet  us  faithfully 

To  found  a  home  on  earth. 
Where  lovefully  and  truthfully, 

Their  heaven  shall  find  a  birth. 
The  song  leaps  up  rejoicingly, 

The  ringing  music  comes 
Through  all  the  heart's  sweet  lovingness, 

From  the  celestial  homes. 

The  burden  of  its  blessedness 

Is  brooding  o'er  the  soul  j 
In  purity,  fidelity, 

The  heavenly  currents  roll. 
All  sweetly,  humbly,  joyfully, 

It  ringeth  through  the  heart, 
And  sings  itself  triumphally, 

For  '  tis  of  heaven  a  part. 

There  was  no  applause,  only  a  profound  silence,  in  the  midst  of 
■which  Harmonia,  dressed  in  pure  white,  came  forward  without 
waiting  to  be  called.  Her  face  was  lighted  with  an  expression  ot 
deep  joy. 

There  was  no  sound  to  interrupt  her ;  you  might  have  heard 
heart  beats.     She  said  : 

"Beloved  : — I  have  but  this  word  to  call  you.  My  heart  is  full 
of  gratitude  to  God,  and  the  angels,  and  you.  I  feel  a  renewed 
thankfulness  springing  up  in  my  heart  toward  the  good  angels  who 
first  came  to  me,  or  I  would  say,  to  us,  and  enabled  us  to  become 
humble  instruments  of  this  work.  To-day,  I  feel  a  renewed  evi- 
dence, that  there  are  greater  goods  in  store  for  us. 

"I  feel  an  assurance  that  the  way  is  soon  to  be  opened,  whereby 
our  brethren  and  sisters  in  humanity  can  be  more  generally  made 
partakers  of  the  blessings  which  we  enjoy.  Tliis  assurance  makes 
this  the  happiest  of  all  birthdays  to  me. 

"  Rest,  dear  friends,  in  this  hope.  The  future  is  all  radiant  and 
glowing  with  promise,  and  the  fulfillment  is  hastening  on  ;  my 
heart's  gratitude  and  dear  love  flows  out  to  you  all ;  may  we  all  be 
enabled  to  so  live,  that  both  our  example  and  our  precept  may  be 
useful,  and  greatly  help  all  with  whom  we  associate,  upward  and 


316  EsPERANZA. 

onward,  to  new  conditions  of  unfolding,  and  higher  degrees  of  light, 
knowledge  and  wisdom." 

As  she  finished,  flowers  were  thrown  to  her,  a  shower  of  beauty, 
and  of  delicious  odors.  In  the  midst  Melodia  came  forward  and 
placed  a  wreath  of  white  lilies  on  her  head,  and  kissed  her,  as  if  for 
us  all,  and  the  whole  house  rose,  and  in  a  moment  all  broke  into 
one  of  those  gi'and  choral  hymns,  whose  thrilling  eff'ect  so  sung 
can  never  be  described.  --' 

After  the  singing  of  the  beautiful  hymn,  the  company  all  mingled 
as  they  chose  to,  in  little  groups,  or  in  single  pairs.  I  mingled  for 
a  short  time  with  the  many,  after  which  I  talked  half  an  hour  with 
Melodia,  then  retired  alone  to  my  room  that  I  might  think  of  you, 
and  write  these  lines  to  you,  my  own  beloved  one,  before  I  retire 
to  rest  on  my  pillow.  I  have  not  written  it  before,  and  it  brings  a 
strange,  indescribable  sort  of  thrilling  sensation  over  me  to  write 
it  now,  to  say  to  you,  dearest  Clara,  that  this  is  my  last  evening  at 
Esperanza. 

To-morrow  I  leave  this  lovely,  this  enchanting  home.  To-morrow 
I  start  on  my  journey  to  come  again  to  you.  It  seems  to  me  like 
a  dream,  when  I  think  of  the  many  weeks  which  have  passed  since 
I  pressed  your  hand,  kissed  your  lips,  and  saw  those  beautiful  eyes 
fill  with  tears,  when  with  trembling  voice  you  said  "good  by."  I 
have  loved  you  devotedly  for  years,  but  it  seems  to-night  that  I 
never  loved  you  so  well  as  now.  It  feels  to  me  like  I  had  gained 
greatly  in  my  capacity, — my  power  to  love  since  I  saw  you.  Oh, 
I  pray  for  your  health  and  your  happiness,  and  that  I  may  have  a 
safe  and  speedy  journey  to  you.  I  trust  that  I  shall  not  pain  you, 
darling,  when  I  confess  that  a  sore  trial  awaits  me  in  bidding  fare- 
well  to  this  beautiful  place,  and  the  many  beautiful  and  loving 
friends  I  have  found  here.  It  appears  to  me  as  though  I  should  not 
be  very  well  able  to  endure  it,  were  it  not  that  I  hope  to  return 
again  and  bring  you  with  me,  to  partake  of,  and  share  the  life  and 
the  love  that  is  here  in  waiting  for  all  the  pure  in  heart. 

I  have  talked  it  all  over  to-night  with  Melodia,  and  she  bid  me  go. 

Never  did  this  dear  and  beautiful  one  appear  more  loving,  or 
more  tenderly  precious  in  my  eyes  than  she  did  this  evening,  when 


ESPEBANZA.  317 

she  said,  "go  and  bring  dear  Clara  to  us;  both  you  and  she  are 
worthy  of  this  life,  and  of  all  our  united  love  ;  and  perchance  both 
of  you  may  find  all  of  us  worthy  of  yourselves,  and  all  the  knowl- 
edge, industry,  friendship  and  love  you  may  bring  to  us."  She 
assured  me  that  her  thoughts  and  her  prayers  would  go  with  me 
on  my  journey,  and  that  she  would  "pray  without  ceasing"  for 
my  safe  and  my  speedy  journey,  and  for  my  finding  you  with  love 
unchanged,  and  willing  to  bear  me  company  to  this  peaceful  home. 

To-morrow,  the  beautiful  Fairy  which  brought  me  here,  and  a 
loving  company  will  attend  me,  and  see  me  safely  on  board  some 
steamer  bound  for  New  Orleans. 

I  will,  I  think,  write  you  one  more  letter  before  I  reach  you.  I 
may  find  time  to  write  you  a  note  to-morrow ;  at  any  rate,  I  hope 
I  shall  find  time  and  opportunity  to  write  you  again,  so  as  to  mail 
the  letter  before  I  sail  from  New  Orleans. 

I  must  close  this  now,  and  retire  to  my  bed.  Good  night,  dearest 
one.     Good  night. 


xxm. 

ADIEU   TO   ESPERANZA. 

Dearest  Clara  : — I  begin  this  letter  the  last  I  hope,  that  I  may 
ever  have  to  write  you  on  the  turbid  waters  of  the  Mississippi. 
Will  finish,  and  mail  it  at  New  Orleans,  before  embarking  on  my 
first  voyage  at  sea. 

At  the  dawn  of  day,  on  Monday  morning,  I  rose  to  take  one 
more  walk  over  the  beautiful  grounds  of  Esperanza.  I  walked 
through  the  gardens  and  orchards ;  as  I  passed  down  toward  the 

lake,  I  met  Mr.  S ,  (a  friend  from  the  East,  who  is  here  on  a 

visit,  and  who  I  think  will  be  likely  to  join  the  society,)  and  we 
finished  our  morning  walk  together. 

"  How  beautiful  this  is,"  said  Mr.  S ►,  as  we  stood  upon  a 

hill,  and  looked  over  the  broad  fields,  orchards,  gardens  and  edifices. 
"  How  very  beautiful.  These  people  have  been  aided  by  the  wisdom 
of  angels,  man  alone  could  never  have  accomplished  this  ;  he  is 
unequal  to  the  task,  so  it  seems  to  me." 

Finding  that  I  had  been  spending  some  time  at  the  place,  he 
asked  many  questions,  and  wished  to  have  my  opinion  of  the  faith, 
and  the  life. 

To  both  of  us,  it  seemed  a  wonderful  change  from  life  in  civili- 
zation. These  people,  now  so  united  in  the  bonds  of  friendship  and 
harmony,  were  but  a  few  years  ago  most  of  them  strangers  to  each 
other,  and  scattered  far  apart ;  many  of  them  were  church  members. 
Some  were  Catholics,  and  some  Methodists, — some  were  Baptists, 
others  Presbyterians, — some  Unitarians,  some  Swedenborgians, 
Universalists,  Shakers,  Quakers,  etc.,  etc.  I  believe  nearly  every 
Christian  denomination  has  furnished  a  share,  and  the  Israelites 
also,  have  been  quite  as  liberal  in  supplying  members  for  the  har- 
monic life,  as  any  of  their  Christian  neighbors.  These  people  were 
318 


ESPERANZA.  319 

first  broken  off,  and  liberated  from  the  fetters  in  which  their  various 
creeds  and  confessions  of  faith  had  bound  them,  and  like  new  land 
cleared  of  its  first  growth,  were  all  prepared  for  the  reception  and 
culture  of  such  seeds  or  plants  as  yield  more  healthy  and  valuable 
fruits. 

Mr,  S and  I  stood  on  a  rising  ground  by  the  shore  of  the 

lake,  and  listened  to  the  band  of  music,  which  every  morning 
awakens  the  members  from  their  repose.  We  heard  the  echoes  of 
the  morning  gun,  and  the  soft  cadence  of  the  morning  hymn,  and 
then  walked  slowly  home  to  breakfast. 

I  was  met  and  greeted  with  a  sad  tenderness  by  all  the  dear 
fi-iends  from  whom  I  was  about  to  part.  Within  an  hour  after  we 
had  finished  our  breakfast,  the  Fairy  was  at  her  wharf,  and  gave  her 
musical  signal  that  all  was  ready.  I  bid  farewell  to  all,  except  the 
little  party  who  were  to  go  with  me  on  the  boat.  Melodia  wished 
to  bear  me  company  in  leaving,  as  she  had  done  in  my  comiug. 
The  dear,  bright  Angela,  also,  volunteered  to  go,  as  did  likewise 
Eveline,  Serafa,  Paul,  Alfred,  and  Oliver,  who  has  been  absent 
most  of  the  time  since  I  came.  Oliver's  mission  appears  two-fold, 
he  transacts  commercial  business,  and  is  also  a  messenger  of  glad 
tidings  to  those  who  are  scattered  and  isolated,  and  who  have 
been  prepared,  through  suffering,  for  a  more  chaste  and  orderly  life, 
yet  have  not  known  that  this  beautiful  home,  and  loving  friends, 
were  ready  and  waiting  to  receive  them.  He  accompanied  us  at  the 
request  of  Angelia.  As  I  walked  toward  the  boat,  all  that  I  had 
beheld  of  beauty,  all  that  I  had  heard  of  instruction,  and  music, 
or  felt  of  love,  came  pressing  into  memory.  I  felt  myself  trem- 
bling between  hope  and  fear,  the  fear  came,  that  I  might  never 
return  to  this  home  of  love  again.  The  voice  of  hope  whispered 
in  mine  ear,  "Fear  not,  thou  shalt  return." 

We  went  on  board,  and  as  the  boat  cast  off  and  got  under  way, 
the  band  on  shore  gave  us  a  musical  adieu.  Our  boat  gave  back 
its  answer  of  beauteous  melody.  Then  the  waving  of  handker- 
chiefs, sprigs  of  evergreen,  boquets  of  flowers,  or  of  whatever  each 
one  happened  at  the  moment  to  have  in  their  hand.     We  passed 


320  ESPERANZA. 

swiftly  around  the  point  of  a  hill ;  and  thus  I  had  my  last  view,  for 
the  present,  at  least,  of  that  ever  peaceful  and  beautiful  home.  The 
distance  which  the  Fairy  would  take  me  was  uncertain ;  we  might 
find  a  boat  bound  for  New  Orleans  any  time  at  some  landing,  or 
wi-th  our  more  rapid  speed,  we  might  overtake  one.  The  day  was 
fine,  the  scenery  along  the  river  banks  very  beautiful.  We  walked 
the  deck,  talked  of  the  present  and  the  future,  of  the  friends  near 
us,  and  those  far  away.  Melodia  comforts  me  about  you — says  she 
has  a  deep  faith  that  you  will  not  reject  me  because  of  the  faith  I 
have  in  the  righteousness  of  this  pure  and  loving  life.  The  fore- 
noon passed  quickly  away  :  at  noon,  we  sat  down  to  our  farewell 
dinner — good  bread,  delicious  fruits  and  sparkling  wine.  Most  of 
us  sat  and  conversed  around  the  table,  after  we  had  dined,  for  per- 
haps an  hour-and-half.  Melodia  simg  a  "  song  of  parting,"  I  think 
it  was  composed  expressly  for  the  occasion.  I  intended  to  get.  a 
copy  of  it  and  send  you,  but  had  not  time. 

When  we  arose  from  the  table  and  went  on  deck,  the  smoke 
of  a  steamer  was  visible  down  the  river.  Our  engineer  plied  his 
furnaces,  and  we  rapidly  neared  her  ;  soon  we  came  alongside. 
She  proved  to  be  the  "Belle,  of  Natchez."  We  took  leave,  shed 
our  parting  tears,  and  I  sprang  on  board.  The  Fairy  turned 
with  a  graceful  circling  sweep,  and  was  soon  hull  down  in  the 
distance,  and  the  dear,  kind  faces  of  her  passengers  were  lost  to 
the  vision  of  my  tearful  eyes.  Then  came  the  loud,  clear,  ringing 
notes  of  music  from  the  little  steamer,  playing  as  she  did  when 
first  I  met  her.  The  tune  was  one  which  I  had  often  heard  Melodia 
sing  in  her  most  playful  and  cheerful  moods.  I  went  to  my  state 
room,  shut  myself  up  alone,  and  wept. 

And  now,  through  an  ever-increasing  distance,  I  look  back  upon 
life  in  Espkranza.  It  was  beautiful  in  the  beginning  ;  it  was  beauti- 
ful every  day  ;  and  now,  as  I  leave  it,  it  appears  more  beautiful 
than  ever.  God's  blessing  on  thee,  and  all  that  are  thine,  oh  Espe- 
ranza,  my  heart's  earthly  home. 

The  scenery  along  the  banks  of  the  Mississipi  is  a  sort  of  grand, 
gloomy  monotony,  the  foliage  gradually  changing  to  a  more  tropical 
character,  and  the  melancholy  cypress,  with  its  festoons  of  funeral 


ESPERANZA.  321 

mosses,  fill  the  swamps  on  either  side.  But  when  I  rose  in  the 
morning,  the  day  that  we  reached  New  Orleans,  the  scene  had 
changed  ;  the  banks  of  the  river  were  lined  with  sugar  plantations  ; 
the  large  fields  of  cane  resembled  our  fields  of  Indian  corn. 

The  white  villas  of  the  planters,  often  surrounded  by  pretty  gar- 
dens, the  villages  of  negro  cabins,  many  of  them  neatly  whitewashed, 
presented  a  scene  in  pleasing  contrast  with  the  desolation  of  wild, 
savage  nature  through  which  we  had  been  passing  the  last  four 
hundred  miles.  Looking  off  in  the  distance,  I  beheld  the  spires 
and  domes  of  New  Orleans,  glittering  and  sparkling  in  the  rays  of 
the  morning  sun.  I  saw  the  gothic  spires  and  the  cross  of  the 
Cathedral,  and  the  white  dome  of  the  St.  Charles  Hotel,  rising  above 
the  flat  crescent  of  the  city.  When  our  boat  landed,  I  went  to  the 
St.  Charles,  established  myself  in  my  room,  then  walked  out  to  view 
the  city.  It  is  now  evening  :  I  have  taken  a  long  walk  this  after- 
noon. I  must  write  a  few  more  lines  to  you  before  I  sleep,  and 
mail  them  in  the  morning,  and  be  ready  by  ten  o'clock  to  leave 
New  Orleans  on  my  rapid  journey  home  to  you.  I  have  engaged 
passage  on  board  a  new,  beautiful  steamei',  said  to  be  a  swift 
sailing  and  safe  vessel.  The  captain  is  a  pleasant  New  Eng- 
land man. 

To-morrow  I  shall  be  far  out  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  every 
hour  coming  nearer  to  you.  I  come  to  you  with  a  great  happiness, 
for  I  come  with  a  great  trust.  I  have  written  a  few  lines  to  the 
loved  friends  at  Esperanza,  and  now  I  turn  my  thoughts,  my 
hopes,  my  prayers,  to  you,  my  blessed,  my  beloved,  my  chosen  one. 
When  you  read  this,  I  shall  be  approaching  you. 

Our  captain  can  not  tell  the  number  of  days  we  shall  be  at  sea,  or 
when  we  may  expect  to  be  landed  at  New  York :  the  winds  and 
the  weather  will  have  a  voice  in  deciding  these  things  ;  and  beside 
this,  the  delays  where  we  may  stop  to  take  in  lading  at  other  ports, 
can  not  all  be  determined  upon  now. 

I  pray  for  you  daily,  my  dearest  love  ;  I  pray  for  your  health, 
but  most  of  all,  that  you,  with  me,  may  accept  the  faith,  and  live 
the  life  of  Spiritual  harmony  and  perpetual  progress. 


322  EsPERANZA. 

It  is  late,  I  feel  the  need  of  rest  ami  sleep.  I  think  I  will  have 
time  to  add  n  page  or  two  in  the  morning  before  the  steamer 
leaves  the  wharf.  I  wish  I  could  know  just  now,  dearest  Clara, 
that  you  were  well,  and  cheerful  and  happy.  I  wish  I  could  know 
whether  you  were  this  moment  sleeping,  or  whether  you  were 
awake  and  thinking  of  me,  as  I  am  of  you.  I  think  of  you 
every  hour.  Good  night,  dear  Clara  ;  may  you  and  I  always 
enjoy  good  nights,  and  good  mornings,  good  days,  and  good 
lives. 

Morning. — My  beloved,  my  own.  The  morning  is  here.  I  am 
awake,  I  am  well,  I  have  arisen,  I  am  writing,  and  almost  impatient 
for  the  coming  hour,  when  I  can  know  that  the  many  miles  now 
between  ns  have  began  to  fall  rapidly,  one  by  one,  behind  the  flying 
vessel.  I  Avish  I  could  be  with  you  to-day,  I  have  so  much  to 
tell,  and  it  is  a  tedious  task  when  one  has  to  write  every  word, 
compared  with  the  pleasure  of  verbal  conversation.  Can  you 
believe  me,  dearest  Clara,  I  have  seen  a  spirit  or  angel,  I  have 
felt  the  touch  and  heard  the  voice  of  a  guardian  angel. 

After  I  had  written  you  last  night,  I  retired  to  my  bed  and  lay 
for  a  time,  thinking  of  you,  and  of  the  kind  friends  who  brought 
me  on  my  journey  a  part  of  the  way  to  this  city  on  their  own 
boat.  I  had  blown  out  my  lamp  and  bad  let  the  window  screens 
down  to  shut  out  the  light  of  the  gas  lamp  that  was  before  my 
window  on  the  street.  I  went  to  sleep.  How  long  I  had  been 
sleeping,  or  at  what  hour  of  the  night  it  was,  I  do  not  know, 
when  I  was  awakened  by  the  touch  of  a  soft  hand  passing  gently 
across  my  forehead  and  over  my  face.  I  opened  my  eyes,  and 
saw  an  angel  standing  beside  the  bed.  The  room  was  filled  with 
light,  soft  and  delicate,  resembling  the  brightest  moonlight,  with 
a  rose  color  mingled  with  the  silver.  The  spirit  form  was  a 
female.  I  have  not  langiiage  to  describe  her  appearance  ;  no  being 
of  earth  ever  presented  such  symmetry  and  beauty. 

I  knew  that  I  was  visited  by  an  angel  ;  I  felt  no  alarm,  but  a 
thrilling  sensation,  a  mingling  together  of  joyful  emotions,  with 
a  feeling  of  humility.  She  was  clothed  in  a  robe  of  white,  and 
wore  a  scarf  of  pale  blue  ;  around  its  edges  was  a  border  of  golden 


ESPERAHZA.  323 

stars,  her  hair  was  brown,  slightly  curling,  and  fell  in  ringlets 
upon  the  shoulders  ;  her  eyes  were  blue,  glowing  with  animation 
and  intellectual  love  ;  a  crown  of  golden  light  was  around  her 
head. 

She  took  me  by  the  hand  and,  smiling,  said  : 

"Child  of  the  earth,  I  rejoice  to  find  thee  so  quiet  and  tran- 
quil ;  I  have  many  things  to  say  unto  thee.  Once  I  lived  on 
the  earth,  in  the  external  or  mortal  body :  more  than  a  century  of 
years  have  passed  since  I  experienced  the  change  in  life  which 
men  call  death.  Neither  the  distance,  or  the  difference,  between 
our  life  and  the  life  on  earth  is  so  great  as  many  believe. 

"I  have  not  lost  my  humanity;  I  retain  my  sympathetic  con- 
nection with  the  human  race.  Though  I  am  a  spirit,  and  live  in 
the  angel  world,  I  feel  a  sister's  love,  a  sister's  interest,  and  a 
sister's  care  toward  thee  and  over  thee.  Though  living  in  the 
external  form,  thou  art  nevertheless  a  spirit.  I  am  one  of  thy 
appointed  guardians,  and  have  come  this  night  to  instruct  and  to 
bless  with  encouraging  counsels. 

"I  have  been  near  thee,  and  often  with  thee  during  all  thy  life, 
from  childhood  to  the  present  time.  I  have  saved  thee  from 
many  dangers,  guarded  thy  life  from  much  evil.  This  night  for 
the  first  time  I  reveal  myself  to  thine  external  senses.  Hence- 
forward thou  shalt  often  see  me,  and  we  will  converse  together 
face  to  face,  as  now. 

"I  was  present  when  the  marriage  vow  was  made  between  thy- 
self and  Clara.  That  sacred  pledge  was  sanctioned  by  your 
guardian  angels  ;  you  had  not  only  our  consent,  but  our  aid  in 
making  it.  Such  pure,  chaste  love  as  you  feel  toward  each  other, 
rises  like  the  fragrance  of  sweet  incense  to  the  heavens,  and  gives 
to  angels  joy.  Other,  and  higher  degrees  of  happiness  are  in 
store  for  you.  I  come  to  thee  here  and  now  to  aid  in  thy  higher 
unfolding. 

"Thou  hast  little  known  how  much  of  direct  agency  thy  spi- 
ritual guardians  have  had  in  directing  and  controlling  the  journey 
from  which  thou  art  returning. 

"  We  hope  for  results  of  great  good,  both  to  thyself  and  Clara, 


324  Ehpekanza. 

also  to  the  society  at  that  beautiful  home  of  love,  where  thou 
hast  been  speiuling  happy  weeks,  and  learning  many  new  and 
useful  lessons. 

"The  Society  of  Harmonists  at  Esperanza  have  done  well; 
they  have  done  much  for  themselves  individually,  much  for  each 
other,  and  much  for  the  erring  and  suffering  race  ;  they  have  a 
clear  knowledge  of  the  harmonial  philosophy,  on  many  subjects  ; 
a  few  things  they  need  yet  to  learn. 

"They  live  faithful  to  the  highest  light  they  have  attained,  and 
are  succeeding  quite  as  well  as  we  anticipated.  It  was  by  our  aid, 
advice,  and  guardian  counsel,  that  this  life  of  happiness  and  ex- 
ample was  established  on  the  earth.  In  connection  with  the 
most  vital  principle  of  their  faith,  they  retain  one  serious  error  of 
opinion  :  from  this  error  we  wish  to  redeem  them  ;  for  this  end, 
we  sent  thee  unto  them.  I  now  have  allusion  to  the  liberty  per- 
mitted and  practiced,  of  sexual  intimacy  with  more  than  one  of 
the  opposite  sex.      One  love,  and  one  only,  is  the  Divine  law. 

"Well  dost  thou  remember  the  painful  suffering  which  was 
thy  own,  in  experience  even  greater  than  was  confessed  in  those 
letters  to  Clara,  when  the  theory  of  division,  and  distribution  of 
sexual  love  was  first  presented  to  thee,  and  so  earnestly,  honestly, 
and  ingeniously  advocated. 

"I  saw  it  all ;  I  Avas  near  thee  during  all  that  time.  I  heard  the 
arguments,  I  read  thy  thoughts,  and  witnessed  thy  perplexity.  I 
visited  Clara  when  those  letters  reached  her.  I  heard  every  sigh 
which  she  drew,  as  in  sorrow  and  deep  mental  anguish,  looking 
through  tears,  she  traced  the  lines  thy  pen  had  made.  It  was  a 
deep  trial  to  you  both  ;  you  bore  it  bravely,  and  the  lesson  will 
not  be  lost. 

"Be  content  with  the  past,  and  all  it  has  brought  thee."  Ex- 
perience is  the  safe  guide  to  wisdom.  Clai'a  is  thine,  thine  alone; 
thou  art  hers,  and  hers  only.  Your  union  is  the  true  '  conjugal 
love.'     You  will  never  separate  on  the  earth  or  in  the  heavens. 

"You  will  to  go  to  Esperanza,  and  be  a  true  example  of  Divine 
matehood,  each  to  the  other,  and  for  the  other  will  fill  entirely  all 
inmost  askinsrs  of  the  heart  for  sexual  affection  and  love. 


EsPERANZA.  325 

"  With  this  home  of  sweetest  rest  and  peace,  each  in  the  heart 
of  the  other,  you  will  radiate,  and  impart  so  much  of  the  uni- 
versal, fraternal,  brotherly  love  to  all  others,  that  your  example 
■will  be  all  that  is  requisite  to  establish  the  truth,  and  demonstrate 
the  beauty  and  safety  of  sexual  duality  to  the  minds  of  all  the 
members. 

"I  perceive  in  thy  mind  a  query  arising,  why  it  was  that  this 
eiTor  was  not  corrected  in  the  beginning,  or  first  formation  of  the 
society ;  or  why  it  was  that  the  angel  guardians  did  not  select 
mediums  free  from  error  on  every  subject,  for  the  central  group  of 
the  gathering  order. 

"Be  calm  and  patient;  I  will  explain  all.  We  find  it  very  diffi- 
cult, indeed  it  has  hitherto  been  impossible  for  us  to  find  medi- 
ums whom  we  could  impress  to  speak  or  write  our  communi- 
cations, without  their  being  colored  and  modified  by  the  opinions 
and  faith  which  the  mediums  themselves  entertained. 

"  This  has  been  the  case  in  regard  to  our  mediums,  and  the  com- 
munications we  gave  through  them  in  forming  the  society  now 
under  consideration.  They  nevertheless  done  the  best  they  could, 
and  angels  can  do  no  more.  They  received  our  teachings,  and 
imparted  them  to  others  in  accordance  with  their  own  imder- 
standings  and  convictions,  not  knowing  or  believing  that  their 
own  j)reconceived  opinions  had  given  color  to  some  sentiments  not 
in  accordance  Avith  our  wishes.  We  have  been  patient,  and  wish 
all  to  be  patient  with  each  other.  Our  object  is  not  yet  fully  com- 
pleted; we  shall  succeed  in  all  that  we  have  undertaken;  we  were 
aware  of  those  difficulties  in  the  beginning,  and  made  allowance 
for  them. 

"Throughout  the  entire  civilized  world,  the  customs  and  laws 
in  regard  to  marriage,  are,  in  many  instances,  little  better  than 
granting  and  selling  indulgences  for  lustful  gratification  and  sex- 
ual abuse.  There  can  not  l;e  health  or  happiness  to  the  race 
until  there  is  acquired  sufficient  wisdom  and  love,  to  secure  to 
children  an  origin  entirely  free  from  blind  and  sensual  lust. 
We  intend  the  society  at  Esperanza  to  be  exemplary  in  this,  as 
well  as  in  other  needful  changes  and  reforms  which  the  world  of 


326  EsPEKANZA. 

mankind  greatly  need.  Many  of  the  active  workers  in  the  first 
gathering  of  the  menihers,  wore  persons  who  had  suffered  for  a 
time  in  the  bonds  of  marriage  without  love;  the  reaction  in  their 
minds  after  freeing  themselves  from  the  old  bonds,  would  natu- 
rally lead  them  into  the  opposite  extreme  for  a  time  ;  this,  though 
a  matter  of  regret,  must  be  patiently  borne  with  ;  the  human  mind, 
Avhen  greatly  agitated  or  disturbed,  requires  time  to  settle  on  the 
line  of  truth  between  extremes. 

"In  our  selection  of  mediums  and  persons,  we  made  choice  of 
those  who  had  suffered  much  in  life  ;  they  were  not  only  moie 
easily  influenced  to  engage  in  the  work  of  reform,  but  they  had 
also  acquired  a  strength  to  endure  the  opposition  and  the  perse- 
cution which  friends  and  relatives  in  the  world  deal  out  to  refor- 
mers. Those  who  have  been  fortunate  in  their  marriage,  and  in 
all  affairs  of  life  successful,  having  reputations  unsullied  in  the 
eyes  of  the  world,  could  not  be  influenced,  or  induced  to  bear  the 
scoftings  and  tho  ridicule  wliich  the  mistaken  and  thoughtless  mul- 
titudes deal  out  to  all  those  who  deviate  from  the  jDopuIar  path- 
way. 

"There  is  an  unfailing  law  of  recompense, by  and  through  which 
all  who  suffer  will  be  rewarded ;  those  who  endure  anguish  and 
pain,  acquire  an  increase  of  capacity  for  pleasure  and  enjoyment,  and 
when  the  day  of  compensation  comes,  those  who  have  mourned 
in  solitude,  and  wept  in  secret  places,  will  rejoice  and  be  exceed- 
ing glad  that  they  were  accounted  worthy  to  suffer  for  truth's 
sake. 

"Dark  and  shadowy  as  human  affairs  now  appear  amongst  all 
nations,  there  has  been  steady  and  gradual  improvement  from 
age  to  age,  since  the  first  morning  after  the  creation  of  man. 
Creative  Wisdom  has  made  no  failure — no  mistake.  The  march 
of  human  progress  is  onward,  toward  the  millcnial  day.  There 
is  no  conflict  between  Reason  and  Revelation,  neither  is  there 
l)etween  God  and  Nature. 

"  The  knowledge  of  tho  truth  of  spiritual  intercourse  is  fast 
spreading,  and  becoming  established  among  the  Xations.  Kings 
and  Queens,  Emperors,  Nolilemen,  iNIombers  of  Parl!am?nt,  Mem- 


EsPERANZA.  327 

bers  of  Congress  and  of  the  various  legislative  bodies,  are  receiv- 
ing messages  of  truth  and  love  from  those  who  have  proved  the 
realities  of  life  beyond  the  grave. 

"  We  can,  if  we  choose  to  do  so,  know  and  reveal  the  hidden 
thoughts  and  the  most  secret  actions  of  men  ;  a  knowledge  of  these 
facts,  and  of  the  great  interest  which  all  good  spirits  and  angels 
have  in  human  affairs  un  the  earth  will  do  a  great  work  in  restrain- 
ing those  who  have  hitherto  been  '  doers  of  evil.'  We  have  begun 
the  good  work  of  human  elevation  in  earnest ;  we  shall  not  cease 
from  the  heavenly  mission  until  the  knowledge  of  God  covers  the 
earth  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.  We  are  choosing  from  the 
multitudes,  and  sending  abroad  many  messengers  of  spiritual 
truth  ;  we  find  many  men,  and  a  large  number  of  -vvomen,  whom 
we  can  impress  to  stand  before  the  assembled  multitudes  and 
speak  to  the  people,  *  as  never  man  spake.' 

"The  wisest  men,  those  possessed  of  the  greatest  intellectual 
powers,  and  having  the  most  liberal  collegiate  education,  are  not 
so  capable  of  interesting  and  instructing  a  public  audience  as  are 
many  female  speakers,  when  these  latter  are  under  our  control. 
Old  opinions,  traditions,  and  superstitions  are  passing  away  ;  for 
a  time  there  will  be  great  tumidt  and  confusion.  '  Cities  of 
refuge'  must  be  prepared;  in  these  all  chaste  and  honest  minds 
may  retire  and  enjoy  j^eace  and  rest. 

"  '  It  must  needs  be  that  offenses  will  come,  but  wo  unto  those 
by  whom  they  come.' 

"Those  who  attempt  to  stand  alone  in  the  midst  of  an  excited 
multitude,  will  be  stoned,  and  abused  in  exact  proportion  to  their 
hight  above  that  multitude,  because  their  life  is  a  reproof  to  all 
wrong  doers  if  they  are  faithful  to  our  teachings,  to  the  example 
of  Christ,  au'l  to  the  spirit  of  Christ  in  themselves.  '  Examine 
yourselves,  piove  yourselves  ;  know  ye  not  your  own  selves,  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  in  you,  except  ye  be  reprobates.'  The  immediate 
disciples  of  Christ  were  socialists,  not  selfish,  individual  property 
holders. 

"Go  then,  thyself  and  Cluia,  to  Espcranza,  and  to  those  already 
gathered  to  that  beautiful  homp,  be  yc  a  living  example  of  divine 


328  ESPERANZA. 

matehood,  a  manifestation  of  the  heavenly  marriage  upon  earth, 
a  representation  of  true  sexual  duality,  an  imitation  of  the  angel 
life  of  '  conjugal  love.'  The  members  of  that  home  will  at 
once  discover,  that  by  accepting  your  example,  they  will  abandon 
only  evils,  whilst  they  will  receive  infinite  gains  ;  they  will  give 
up  no  principle  Avorth  possessing,  but  will  receive  immeasurable 
riches.  I  entreat  you  both  to  go  ;  all  things  are  now  ready.  The 
Sun  of  righteousness  will  soon  arise  with  'healing  in  his  wings.' 
"The  time  draws  nigh,  when 

"  'A  gentle  hand  shall  wipe  the  tears 

From  every  weeping  eye. 
And  sighs,  and  groans,  and  grief,  and  fears. 

And  death  itself  shall  die.' 

"  Your  most  intimate  friends  will  discourage  your  going.  They 
will  not  believe  success  in  a  harmonic  life  possible.  Be  patient, 
kind,  and  firm  ;  look  to  the  '  light  within.'  Kemember,  in  the 
'  work  of  righteousness  shall  be  peace,  and  the  reward  of  right- 
eousness, quietness  and  assurance  forever.'  Be  hopeful  and  trust- 
ful ;  I  will  visit  thee  again  during  the  voyage.  I  go  now,  to  visit 
the  object  of  thy  love,  and  whisper  words  of  comfort  in  her  ear.  I 
will  tell  her  of  thy  safety,  and  of  thy  coming. 

"In  the  early  morning,  whilst  they  remain  fresh  in  memory, 
write  the  words  I  have  spoken,  the  record  may  prove  useful  in 
the  future.  'Believe  not  every  spiiit,  but  try  the  spirits  whether 
they  be  of  God.'  Every  suggestion,  whether  presented  from  within 
the  mind,  or  from  the  mind  of  another,  in  or  out  of  the  external 
form,  bring  to  the  test  of  reason  :  when  the  external  judgment  is 
satisfied,  and  the  witness  in  the  soul  sanctions,  go  forward;  if 
otherwise,  wait." 

With  a  like  radiant  smile,  with  which  she  came,  she  bade  me 
adieu.  Gradually  the  light  faded  from  the  room,  and  I  was  alone. 
I  have  more  to  relate  when  we  meet. 

In  the  bonds  of  true  affection,  I  remain  your  own 

Frank. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    I. 

From  New  York  to  Niagara. — Cars  crowded — Seats  occupied — ^New- 
experience —  Instructive  lessons  —  Niagara — International  Hotel — An 
unworthy  thought — Remorse — Gentle  reproof — Repentance — Forgive- 
ness— Repose  and  sleep, 7 

CHAPTER    II. 

A  Day  at  Niagara. — The  Female  Guide,  and  morning  walk — The  wild 
flowers,  the  memories  they  call  up  —  The  question  of  Love  —  New 
tlioughts  respecting  human  freedom — Invitation  to  visit  the  home  of 
Miss  Elmore — Memorable  lesson  of  the  foot  bath, 18 

CHAPTER    III. 

Buffalo  and  a  Ftlgrimage. — The  old  piano — Beautiful  song — Visit  to 
the  prison — The  cell  where  a  dear  friend  had  been  confined — Historical 
events — Wicked  conspiracy — Triumph  of  truth — ^Various  incidents,. . .     36 

CHAPTER    IV. 

Cincinnati. — Description  of  the  journey  from  Cleveland  over  the  Little 
Miami  Rail-road  —  Sabbath  in  Cincinnati  —  A  new  society  —  Miss 
Elmore's  address  at  the  meeting — The  new  order  of  Harmony — Even- 
ing walk, 47 

CHAPTER    V. 

The  Ohio  and  Mississippi.  —  Downward  voyage  on  board  the  "  Effie 
Afton" — Contrast  of  North  and  South — White  Slaves,  and  tlieir  con- 
dition —  Boat  discussions — A  parson  with  the  Testament  in  hand 
combating  the  "isms"  —  St.  Paul  and  Woman's  Rights — The  Maine 
Law — A  quarrel — The  wrath  of  man  subdued  by  the  gentleness  of 
woman — The  little  steamboat  with  a  single  smoke-pipe — The  white 
flag  and  golden  star — The  burst  of  blue  smoke  and  cannon's  roar — 
Aastounding  peal  of  triumphant  music — Leaving  the  "Effie  Afton,". .     68 

329 


330  CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Tax.  AaEiVAL. — Introduction  to  new  friends  on  board  the  Fairy — Miss 
Elmore's  new  name — The   music  on   the  boat — Supper — Jealousy — 
"  The  perfect  love  that  casteth  out  fear" — Arrival  at  Esperanza — Joy-     87 
OU8  welcome, 

CHAPTER    VII. 

My  FIE8T  DAT  AT  EsPERANZA. — Moming  reveille — Order  of  work  for  the 
day — The  lecture  room — Public  address — Costume — ^Vincent — ^Harmo- 
nia — Labor  in  harmony — A  beloved  patriarch — The  opera, 107 

CHAPTER   VIII. 

Habmonia. — Joys  of  life  in  Freedom — Severing  of  old  bonds — Former 
attempts  at  Association — Causes  of  their  failure — The  gallery  of  Art,  126 

CHAPTER    IX. 

The  Masqcicsade. — Grains  and  fruits — Sickness  and  health — Reforming 
criminals — Governments — The  Improvisatrice — The  baths — Tho  even- 
ing masquerade,  ....^ 146 

CHAPTER   X. 

SdNDAT   a   DAT   OF    EEVIEW,    AND    OF    NEW   BEGINNING    IN   THE  LIFE   OF   THE 

FUTURE. — An  hour  with  Melodia — The  question  of  Love — The  Art  ova- 
tion— Religious  service — Making  all  time  holy 163 

CHAPTER    XI. 

EeoNOMTES. — ^The  domain — A  right  beginning — Individual  and  collective 
rights — Working  for  love — The  spirit  of  justice, 176 

CHAPTER    XII. 

The  children. — Remembered  visits  to  a  Shaker  village — The  contrast — 
Individuality— School  of  life— The  nursery  and  the  "baby  world"— 
New  "Declaration  of  Independence" — Rights  of  children, 187 

CHAPTER    XIII. 
Education. — Finding  a  confessor — ^Unity  of  life — ^How  to  attain  to  love 


and  unity,. 


200 


CONTENTS.  "Sol 


CHAPTER    XIV. 
The  Loves  of  Harmony. — Self-ownership — Marriage  in  Savageism  and 
in  Civilization— Chivalry— Purity  and  freedom— Living  in  unity  and 
harmony, ojj 

CHAPTER  XV. 
Immoetality.— An  aged  father  nears  the  spirit  life— His  conversation 
with  •'  Frank '  — Vincent  explains  the  difference  between  the  rules  of 
life  adopted  at  Esperanza,  and  those  contained  in  the  writings  of  Fou- 
rier-Man a  condition  maker— The  soul  of  a  plant  explained  to  the 
children — the  theatre  and  its  uses, 223 

CHAPTER    XVI. 
The  last  fkstival. — Harmonies  of  dress  and  work — Menial  labor — Owner- 
ship of  woman  —  The  vestulate — Father  Gautier— Melodia  sings  of 
freedom  achieved,  of  harmonies  established,  of  peace,  love  and  happi- 
ness,    237 

CHAPTER    XVII. 
Propogandism.— Psychometry  or  the  faculty  of  Soul  measuring — Harmo- 
nia  describes  "  Clara,"  by  holding  a  letter  in  her  hand — Father  Gau- 
tier— Instructive  teachings  and  explanations — The  white  rose 249 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 
The  Transition  of  Death.— Nine  strokes  of  the  bell— The  gathered  as- 
sembly— Father  Gautier  brought  in — His  last  meeting  with  them  in 
bodily  form — His  adieu  and  his  blessing — His  departure  from  earth 
surrounded  by  friends,  and  midst  the  melody  of  sweet  music — First 
experience  of  Death  in  Esperanza — The  white  flag  at  half-mast— Sun- 
set parade — Dirge — Triumphal  hymn — Tolling  of  the  bell — Minute 
guns — The  order  of  the  funeral — Communing  with  spirits — Messao-e 
from  Father  Gautier — The  funeral  procession — The  order  of  burial 263 

CHAPTER    XIX. 
Religion-. — A  full  description  of  the  Religious  Faith,  given  to  Frank  by 
Harmonia. 274 

CHAPTER  XX. 
The  order  and  the  work. — Character  of  the  Government — The  gospel 
of  harmony— The  Mormons— The  Society  of  Jesus— The  missionaries 
of  Social  Redemption — The  alarm  of  fire — Comparison  between  a  life 
in  Harmony,  and  life  in  Civilization — Privilege,  and  commission,  to 
invite  others  to  this  life,  and  this  Home 284 


332  (  ONTEXTs. 

CHAPTER    XXI. 

A  DREAM  WITHIN  A  DREAM. — All  aftist's  rcasoii  for  not  going  to  Italy — 
Children  and  their  inheritance — The  rehearsal  beside  the  hedge — 
Moonlight  excursion  on  the  lake  —  Notes  of  the  bugle  answered  by 
"  a  star  of  lights  " — The  token  of  acceptance, 297 

CHAPTER    XXII. 

Harmonia's  birth-DAT. — Responding  to  toasts — Song  of  the  "four  leaved 
shamrock  " — Vincent  sings  a  song  which  Harmonia  had  composed  fm- 
a  similar  occasion  years  ago — Harmonia's  address  in  response  to  the 
song 309 

CHAPTER    XXIII. 

Adieu  to  Espkranza. — Alfred,  Paul  and  Oliver,  Melodia,  Angela,  Eveline 
and  Serapha,  accomi)any  Frank,  on  the  Faiiy,  in  the  first  part  of  Iiis 
returning  voyage — "The  Belle  of  Natches" — "Parting  tears" — Mis- 
sissippi scenery — New  Orleans — Message  of  an  Angel, 318 


THE 

ILLUSTRATED  MANNERS  ROOK, 

A  Volume  of  Five  Hundred  Pages, 
ILLUSTRATED  WITH  TWO  HUNDRED  ENGRAVINGS. 


This  book  has  twenty-six  chapters,  containing  the  princi- 
ples of  Politeness  and  Refinement,  with  the  most  minute  and 
careful  directions  respecting  the  person,  dress,  conduct,  ob- 
servances, decorums,  customs,  conversation,  courtesies, 
fashions,  delicacies  and  requirements  for  all  occasions  and 
relations  in  life. 

The  chapters  on  speech  and  conversation,  writing,  and 
correspondence,  pronunciation  of  foreign  languages ;  on  cho- 
rographic  exercises,  and  on  fashion  and  the  toilet,  are  of 
exceeding  interest  and  value.  This  book  is  beautifully 
adapted  to  the  important  uses  for  which  it  was  expressly 
written,  and  will  be  found  worth  many  times  its  cost  to 
every  thoughtful  reader.  It  should  not  only  be  read,  but 
carefully  studied,  chapter  by  chapter. — Price  one  doUar. 

Sample  copies  forwarded  by  mail  (postage  paid-,)  to  any 
part  of  the  United  States,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 

Orders  to  the  trade  supplied  on  liberal  terms. 

Address         VALENTINE  NICHOLSON, 

Cincinnati,  Ohio. 


iiliiiii,: 


•5   '     «. 


